all intents and purposes?

Question

I know the saying is "for all intents and purposes", but I have heard atleast three people in the last month mistakenly say, "for all intensive purposes". Why do they say that?

It doesn't even make sense. Think about it..... How can a purpose be 'intensive'. I just think it's funny, and I can't help but correct them when I hear them say the wrong thing. How would you explain the correct way to say it and why the way they say it is wrong?

Have you ever heard anybody say something wrong, and corrected them? How did they react to you?

Answer 1

I really enjoyed the answers by Jared and Insanity and they have a lot of good insights. But, I'm not sure they gave you all of what you were looking for entirely.

If you want to explain the phrase you could point out that some of the most important things about what people say and do are their INTENTS as well as PURPOSES for saying and doing them. To cover all bases regarding why things are being said or done, we can preface our comments with the note that what we say pertains to ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES that possibly might be involved. And, if you keep saying INTENSIVE PURPOSES I'll see that you will need INTENSIVE CARE ...on PURPOSE.

Answer 2

I think people say things like this because they don't read very much. They pick up the expression from something they've heard someone say, but fit it into a pre-existing vocabulary. Since expressions like this are infrequent in everyday speech, it never gets corrected.

There is a brief urge to shake such a person, and say, "Don't you care that you sound like a moron?" or "Our language is dying, and you are partly responsible!" This isn't helpful, however, and can get you punched, or at least slapped around. I would just let it alone, if I were you, unless you know the person well. Most people are not receptive to this kind of correction.

Answer 3

Virgo, right? Anyway, people with no self esteem problems, and who are aware enough to never take anything personally, 2% of the world's population?, will welcome constructive "criticism". The remainder will do "the usual" which isn't much fun, for either party.

The explanation: the phrase is intended to mean "in respect of all possibilities in the subject area"....the following is "true"..... i would suggest :))