Porpose vs. Purpose: Which is Correct?

"Porpose" is an incorrect spelling of the word "purpose."
"Purpose" is why you do something or why something exists. It's the reason behind actions or the goal guiding them.

For example...

❌ Her porpose in starting a community garden was to promote sustainable living and foster a sense of unity among neighbors.

✅ Her purpose in starting a community garden was to promote sustainable living and foster a sense of unity among neighbors.

In this sentence, "purpose" means the reason she started the community garden, which is to encourage sustainable living and bring neighbors together.

What does "purpose" mean?

"Purpose" is a noun that means the reason for which something is done or exists, providing direction or intention behind actions, decisions, or creations. It represents the goal or objective guiding a particular effort or the existence of something.

The Ngram graph below shows how often "purpose" and "porpose" have been used from the 1800s to the 2000s. "Purpose" has experienced a bit of a decline in the last 80 years, while its misspelling "porpose" has always seen nearly zero use.

How to pronounce "purpose"

The pronunciation of "purpose" in American English and British English is nearly identical, though the "r" sound is more emphasized in American English.

Phonetic Pronunciation: PUR-pus
PUR: Pronounced like "pur," rhyming with "fur."
pus: Pronounced like "pus," rhyming with "bus."

Why would we misspell "purpose" as "porpose"?

Phonetic Similarity: The correct pronunciation of "purpose" has a short "u" sound, but some individuals might mistakenly hear it as a short "o" sound, leading to the misspelling "porpose."

Typo/Autocorrect: Typos happen! Mistakes while typing fast or on an unfamiliar keyboard can easily result in misspelling "purpose" as "porpose," especially if autocorrect isn't set to recognize the correct spelling.

Other common misspellings of "purpose"

purpse
purpos
purpouse
purpse
porpuse

Example sentences of the misspelling of "purpose" as "porpose"

It's important to note that "porpose" is an incorrect spelling of "purpose" and may lead to confusion in written communication.
The word processing software flagged "porpose" as a misspelling, indicating that the accurate spelling is "purpose."
In academic and professional settings, using "porpose" instead of "purpose" can detract from the clarity and accuracy of your writing.
When reviewing your work, be sure to identify and correct instances where "porpose" is incorrectly used, opting for the accurate spelling, "purpose."
English language guidelines consistently emphasize that "porpose" is a misspelling, and it's crucial to maintain correct spelling for effective communication.

Example sentences of "purpose"

Her purpose in volunteering at the animal shelter is to help provide care and find loving homes for abandoned pets.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the upcoming project and allocate tasks to team members.
The GPS system serves the purpose of guiding travelers with accurate directions to their destinations.
His purpose in joining the environmental club is to actively contribute to sustainability initiatives in the community.
The purpose of the research study is to investigate the impact of technology on students' learning outcomes.
In meditation, the purpose is to achieve a state of mindfulness and inner tranquility.
The purpose of the safety training is to ensure that all employees are aware of proper protocols in case of emergencies.
The purpose of the school assembly is to celebrate achievements and encourage school spirit.
The purpose of the new app is to streamline communication and enhance collaboration among team members.
Writing a mission statement helps organizations articulate their purpose and values to guide their actions and decisions.

Check out our other related blog posts:
🖊️ Purposely vs. Purposefully
🖊️ Ulterior Motive Meaning and Examples

Synonyms for "purpose"

Objective
Goal
Intention
Aim
Mission
Function
Design
End
Ambition
Rationale

Want to sound like a native speaker?

Engram’s AI-powered grammar checker makes your English sound like a native speaker’s, suggesting natural English expressions on top of fixing grammar, spelling, punctuation, word order, and vocabulary.