a lofty goal for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lofty goal for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an ambitious or high-reaching objective that is intended for a specific person, group, or purpose. Example: "Setting a lofty goal for the team can inspire everyone to strive for excellence and push their limits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Sorenstam has a lofty goal for next year: winning all four women's majors.

The New York Times - Sports

That is a lofty goal for this city, whose whitewashed buildings recall a more genteel time in Bolivian history.

The New York Times

That is a lofty goal for any social services agency in Nassau County these days, with another round of cuts looming because of the county's fiscal crisis.

The New York Times

Repairing trust, though, may be a lofty goal for someone who just showed up, entering a school system battered by a year of scandals and leadership instability.

The Washington Post

He has set his sights on being No. 1 in that market in five years, a lofty goal for an exchange that is now a distant second.

The New York Times

USA Track and Field has set a lofty goal for itself in London — to win 30 medals, an increase from the 23 the United States won at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"Leland Stanford, Sr. could have built Stanford on a hill so it could be seen from a distance, a lofty goal difficult for anyone to obtain.

Stanford University

While this sounds like a rather lofty goal for a business programme, the University of South Carolina firmly believes that humility is something than can and must be taught to those with a penchant for global business so much so, that part of our required coursework is a class in business ethnography.

The Economist

We believe this is a lofty goal to strive for but also one difficult to measure and seldom realized (Buchanan 1996; Wallerstein 1992).

Environmental Health Perspectives

The city's politicians and Olympic organizers started off in 2009 with a lofty goal in its bid for the Games.

The Washington Post

That's a lofty goal, considering the discovery for just one drug can traditionally take decades and tens of millions of dollars, with a high rate of failure before anything comes of the research.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lofty goal for", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what the goal is intended for. Providing specific details about the subject enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a lofty goal for" when the goal is unrealistic or unachievable given the available resources or current circumstances. Ensure the ambition is grounded in some level of feasibility to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lofty goal for" functions as a noun phrase that modifies and characterizes a specific objective. It typically describes the nature of the goal, indicating that it is ambitious, high-reaching, and requires substantial effort. Ludwig provides many examples from News & Media and Academia.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lofty goal for" is a phrase used to describe an ambitious and challenging objective set for a specific entity. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used. While the phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Academia, its effectiveness depends on the goal's feasibility and the context in which it's presented. Consider alternatives like "an ambitious aim for" or "a high aspiration for" to fine-tune your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an ambitious aim for

Replaces "lofty" with "ambitious", focusing on the level of effort and determination required.

a high aspiration for

Uses "aspiration" instead of "goal", emphasizing the desire and hope associated with the objective.

a challenging objective for

Substitutes "lofty" with "challenging", highlighting the difficulty in achieving the goal.

a far-reaching target for

Replaces "goal" with "target" and "lofty" with "far-reaching", suggesting a broader scope and impact.

an elevated ambition for

Uses "ambition" instead of "goal", underscoring the personal drive behind the aim and "elevated" instead of "lofty".

a noble pursuit for

Replaces "goal" with "pursuit" and "lofty" with "noble", adding a sense of moral value and purpose.

a grand design for

Emphasizes the scale and vision of the objective, using "grand design" instead of "a lofty goal".

a significant undertaking for

Focuses on the scale of the effort required, replacing "a lofty goal" with "a significant undertaking".

a strategic objective for

Highlights the planned and purposeful nature of the goal, using "strategic objective" instead of "a lofty goal".

a stretch goal for

This alternative highlights that the goal is beyond normal reach.

FAQs

How can I use "a lofty goal for" in a sentence?

You can use "a lofty goal for" to describe an ambitious objective set for someone or something. For example, "Winning the championship is "a lofty goal for" the team this season."

What are some alternatives to "a lofty goal for"?

Some alternatives include "an ambitious aim for", "a high aspiration for", or "a challenging objective for" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always positive to have "a lofty goal for" something?

While aiming high is often encouraged, setting "a lofty goal for" something can be detrimental if the goal is unrealistic or leads to disappointment and discouragement. It's important to balance ambition with practicality.

What makes a goal "lofty"?

A goal is considered "lofty" when it is ambitious, challenging, and requires significant effort and resources to achieve. It often represents a substantial improvement or advancement from the current state.