By design means deliberately, as planned: the workshop groups are small by design, so everyone gets a turn. Design here isn't graphics or style; it's the intention behind something. The phrase helps when an odd detail might look like a mistake: the ending is open by design. A classic pair: by accident or by design.
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happen / be arranged by design; be ... by design; by accident or by design
- The workshop groups are small by design, so everyone gets a turn.
- The final scene leaves the question unanswered by design.
- The archive is open to everyone by design, not because someone forgot to add restrictions.
What changed
First versionThe menu is short on design, to keep preparation simple.
RevisionThe menu is short by design, to keep preparation simple.
The familiar on purpose suggests on, giving on design. But design, unlike purpose, goes with by: short by design. The preposition changed, and the short menu became a deliberate choice.
On purpose also means deliberately, usually about a person's action: he did it on purpose. By design is about structure or planning: the room is plain by design. By default is the option that applies until someone changes it.
Your turn
The team deliberately chose this layout: The unusual layout is there by ___.
Show the answer
design — The phrase needs the noun design. Designed is a participle and isn't used after by in this meaning.
Explain an unusual detail of an event, object or text as a deliberate choice, and name its purpose. Use by design.
The invitation contains very little text by design, so the date stands out.
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