“For all intensive purposes, it's finished.”
Grammar Entry 650 / 1011 60-second read
For all intensive purposes vs. For all intents and purposes
Classic eggcorn.
The comparisoni
“For all intents and purposes, it's finished.”
The ruleii
¶
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.
The phrase dates to a 1546 Act of Parliament: "to all intents and purposes."
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Eggcorn alert — it's not "intensive."