The Grammar Genie says hello!

[Rian]

Could you please give sentence examples?

[Tim-the-Hermit]

? e.g.

'It was the intent of Parliament.'

'It was the intention of Parliament.'

I don't understand the difference.

[Keep The Reason]

"Intention is the general word implying a having something in mind as a plan or design, or referring to the plan had in mind. Intent, a somewhat formal term now largely in legal usage, connotes more deliberation (assault with an intent to kill)"

My intention was to buy a long dress to wear as a guest at the wedding. However, after shopping awhile, I didn't find any styles of long dresses that I liked, so I bought a short one instead.

Our apartment building has a strict policy of no pets. My neighbor, George, rarely visits me. So when he knocked at my door this morning, I just knew his intent was to find my cat!

Thus, an intention is a general plan that one has in mind. An intent is really a deliberate plan.

Link where I found the explanation

[Tim-the-Hermit]

Thanks KTR, it makes sense now!

[Rian]

Those were good examples. I'd say that "intention" is often used when it's followed by a "but I did this instead", like the example - IOW, you have an idea, but are open to change as you go along. "Intent" is a much stronger purpose.

Interesting - I'd never thought of how those two words were used differently.

[JustJim]

Intentions, the good ones, in particular, are what the road to Hell is paved with.

Jim

[Tim-the-Hermit]

Those sayings seem to get more true as I get older, Jim!

I ought to have known about the difference, as I have an LL.B Oops! I think I have always assumed that 'intention' was just as strict as 'intent.' Thanks for the help.

[Rian]

ah, don't worry - I don't think it's anything strict or formal in the definition of those words. It's not like the "effect" and "affect" mix-up, where it is grammatically incorrect to use "affect" when you should have used "effect" and vice-versa. I think you could really use either "intent" or "intention" and be grammatically correct. It's just a nuance. But it's nice to know, still.

[NH Baritone]

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/affect-versus-effect.aspx

[Rian]

Interesting! I knew about the rare use of "effect", but not the rare use of "affect" (the psychological term).

[Tim-the-Hermit]

Is there a 'posh' way of using 'affects' too, I remember reading something like 'She affects to be learned...'? Gah! You hearies and your fiddly English!

[Rian]

"You hearies" - cute!

Yes, "affect" also means "Pretend to have or feel something", and usually you do that for something that you want to impress people about. Here's a couple of good examples from Wiki:

"Her affected accent really had an effect on me"

"Her affected accent really affected my view of her"

Also, an "affectation" is "Behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress" like "His French accent is just an affectation"

[Tim-the-Hermit]

Thanks Rian!

[Rian]

you're welcome!

[JustJim]

Here's a grammar essential: The difference between knowing your shit and knowing you're shit.



Jim