a main goal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a main goal" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a goal that is an important priority. For example, "Attaining a college degree has been a main goal of mine since high school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Livability" appears to be a main goal.

The New York Times

A main goal of Obamacare was to help the needy.

The Economist

He has called the effort a main goal of his presidency of the noncreedal association.

The New York Times

And of course, a main goal of the agreement is to try and "isolate" China.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Swedlund said improving fuel economy was a main goal in the Accord's freshening.

The New York Times

A main goal of publicizing the findings is to shame poor-performing states into doing better.

The New York Times

A main goal is to deflect attention from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Economist

That was a main goal of electoral changes, introduced in 1994, that favor big parties.

The New York Times

Crash experts said that a main goal was to discover what pieces of metal fell off the plane first.

The New York Times

A main goal, she said, is to attract more healthy people, thus spreading the financial risk across a larger group.

The New York Times - Health

Rejecting the deal could leave millions of the nation's poorest people without coverage, undermining a main goal of the law.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid redundancy, vary your phrasing. While "a main goal" is acceptable, consider alternatives like "a primary objective" or "a key aim" for diversity.

Common error

Avoid using "a main goal" when the goal is actually secondary or less significant. This can mislead the reader and diminish the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a main goal" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It identifies and emphasizes the primary objective in a given context, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

28%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a main goal" is a noun phrase used to emphasize the most important objective in a given context. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse sources. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, it effectively communicates priorities and focuses attention. To enhance clarity, always provide context when using "a main goal", and consider using alternatives like "a primary objective" or "a key aim" to avoid repetition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a primary objective

Replaces "goal" with "objective" and "main" with "primary", both conveying importance.

a significant objective

Similar to "a primary objective", highlighting the importance of the objective.

a key aim

Substitutes "goal" with "aim" and "main" with "key", indicating a central purpose.

a principal target

Synonymous replacement of "goal" with "target" and "main" with "principal", which emphasizes importance.

a central focus

Replaces "goal" with "focus", shifting from a target to a central point of attention.

a crucial purpose

Replaces "goal" with "purpose" emphasizing the critical nature of the objective.

a top priority

Indicates that the goal is of utmost importance and needs immediate attention.

a leading intention

Uses "intention" instead of "goal", suggesting a planned course of action.

a chief ambition

Replaces "goal" with "ambition", conveying a strong desire for achievement.

a prime directive

Implies a fundamental and non-negotiable guiding principle.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a main goal" in a sentence?

Use "a main goal" to introduce a central objective. Follow it with a 'to + verb' phrase or a clause explaining the desired outcome. For example, "A main goal of this project is to improve efficiency".

What phrases are similar to "a main goal"?

You can use alternatives like "a primary objective", "a key aim", or "a central focus" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "the main goal is main"?

Yes, avoid using redundant phrases like "the main goal is main". Instead, focus on clearly stating the goal itself. For instance, "The main goal is increased profitability" is preferable to "The main goal is main: increased profitability."

How does "a main goal" differ from "a secondary goal"?

"A main goal" refers to the most important objective, while "a secondary goal" refers to a less critical or supporting objective. Prioritize the main goal and acknowledge secondary goals as additional benefits or considerations.