a trajectory toward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a trajectory toward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a direction or path leading to a particular goal or outcome. Example: "The company is on a trajectory toward becoming a leader in sustainable technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Like a flickering compass needle, science offers a trajectory toward truth, but not a recipe for dealing with it.

The New York Times - Books

Reports that come in at under 150,000 jobs could put him on a trajectory toward defeat.

The New York Times

Systematically depriving American voters of large quantities of information essential for enlightened exercise of their suffrage rights places our country on a trajectory toward tyranny.

The New York Times

Hurwitz and Blumenfeld's move from three-minute shorts to nine-minute webisodes suggests a trajectory toward the bigger and, we'll see, maybe better.

The New Yorker

As with all revolutions, to remain on a trajectory toward democracy requires continued popular pressure on all those with the capacity to hijack democratic aspirations.

The New York Times

"I'm very deeply concerned for my kids — and I know it's cliché — that we're on a trajectory toward economic collapse," he said last week, sitting in a restaurant in Hunterdon County.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Sadly, there is a palpable sense among many people that the country is on a dangerous trajectory toward a violent confrontation — with the past, with itself, and with its own varied and complex sense of identity and values.

The New York Times

The weight of this payload constitutes the missile's throw weight that is, the total weight that the missile is capable of placing on a ballistic trajectory toward a target.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If the representative point of a system were knocked about randomly, then due to this asymmetry, it would be very probable that the system at any given time be on a trajectory leading toward equilibrium.

SEP

However, the ball comes off the club on a trajectory heading toward the fortunately placed tree, and so the probability of the ball landing in the hole is higher than it was before the club hit the ball.

SEP

He believes that Silicon Valley is mission control for mankind, which is therefore on a steep trajectory toward perfection.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a trajectory toward" to describe a process or series of events that are predictably leading to a specific outcome. This emphasizes the direction and momentum of the activity.

Common error

Avoid using "a trajectory toward" to describe static situations or one-time events. This phrase is best suited for scenarios where there is continuous movement or development over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a trajectory toward" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used adjectivally to describe a noun, indicating a directional path or course of action leading to a specific outcome. As shown by Ludwig, it illustrates a progression or development towards a particular goal.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a trajectory toward" is a prepositional phrase used to describe a directional path or course leading to a specific outcome. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news, science, and business contexts. It's best employed to describe processes that predictably lead to a certain result, but should be avoided in static or one-time event contexts. Related phrases include "a course leading to" and "a path towards". Overall, it's a versatile phrase for indicating movement and development towards a particular goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a course leading to

Emphasizes the path or route taken.

a path towards

Highlights the route or way being followed.

a route to

Focuses on the established way of getting to a specific destination.

a progression to

Stresses the step-by-step advancement toward something.

a move towards

Highlights the action of advancing.

a development leading to

Highlights the unfolding nature.

a trend in the direction of

Suggests a general inclination or drift.

a tendency toward

Indicates a predisposition or inclination.

an inclination toward

Emphasizes a leaning or preference.

a vector directed at

Uses a more technical term to indicate direction.

FAQs

How can I use "a trajectory toward" in a sentence?

You can use "a trajectory toward" to describe something that is following a certain path that will likely end up in a particular result. For example: "The company is on "a trajectory toward" increased profits."

What's a good substitute for "a trajectory toward"?

Alternatives to "a trajectory toward" include phrases like "a path towards", "a course leading to", or "a progression to", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a trajectory toward" or "a trend toward"?

While both suggest movement in a particular direction, ""a trajectory toward"" implies a more defined and predictable path. "a trend toward" suggests a general inclination that may not be as certain.

Can "a trajectory toward" be used for abstract concepts?

Yes, "a trajectory toward" can be used for abstract concepts such as ""a trajectory toward" peace", ""a trajectory toward" understanding", or ""a trajectory toward" economic recovery". It's appropriate as long as there's a sense of progression and direction.