What is the difference in usage between these idioms all intents and or

You're likely thinking of the idiom "to all intents and purposes", which means "in every practical sense" or "effectively". It's a common phrase used to emphasize that something is essentially true, even if it isn't officially or legally stated.

Here's how it's used:

* "To all intents and purposes, the project is finished." This means the project is complete, even though there might be some minor details left to finalize.

* "The house is empty, to all intents and purposes." This means that even though the house might have a few personal items, it's essentially empty and no longer used as a home.

Let's break down why it's not "all intents and or":

* "And" is the correct word. The idiom is "to all intents and purposes".

* "Or" doesn't make sense grammatically. The phrase needs a conjunction that connects the ideas of "intents" and "purposes," and "or" would imply a choice between the two, which is not the meaning.

In summary, the correct idiom is "to all intents and purposes," and it emphasizes that something is true in practice, even if it might not be officially stated.