above the target

USAGE SUMMARY

"above the target" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to something which has surpassed a goal, objective or expectation. For example, "The company's profits were above the target for the quarter, exceeding their expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the examples cited above, the target speed for smooth pursuit was always constant.

Plosone

More important, inflation remains stubbornly above the target.

The Economist

Target backstops are required and must be 10ft above the target.

The Guardian

Syracuse University's first-year class this year has 336 students, well above the target of 270.

The New York Times

The remaining three banks are above the target, but within single digits.

The New York Times

Finally, he said, aim slightly above the target, as gravity will drag down the dart.

The New York Times - Arts

If minimize is True, a pitch above the target will move down to the nearest octave.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Given a source Pitch, shift it up octaves until it is above the target.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Even more important, he'd scored above the target level for each of the competencies we'd identified.

Harvard Business Review

This microstructure refinement yielded 20 30% higher hardness of the coatings deposited above the target racetrack than corresponding coatings deposited above the target centre.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The silicon substrates were placed 8 cm above the target surface.

Diamond and Related Materials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing metrics, use "above the target" to clearly indicate positive performance against a predefined goal. For instance, "Sales figures were above the target, demonstrating strong market demand."

Common error

Avoid using "above the target" when referring to physical placement, as it is primarily used for abstract goals or metrics. Instead of saying "The shelf is above the target", use "above the mark" or "higher than the indicated point" to clearly describe a physical relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "above the target" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a state or condition that surpasses a predefined goal or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "above the target" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to denote that a specific goal, level, or expectation has been exceeded. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across various domains. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts, it effectively communicates achievement and positive performance. While versatile, it's crucial to avoid misusing it in physical contexts, where alternatives like "above the mark" are more appropriate. Related phrases include "exceeding the target" and "surpassing the goal", offering nuanced options for expressing similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeding the target

Focuses on the action of surpassing the target, rather than the state of being beyond it.

surpassing the goal

Replaces "target" with "goal", emphasizing achievement and aspiration.

beyond the objective

Uses "objective" instead of "target", suggesting a planned aim that has been outperformed.

over the limit

Implies that there's a boundary that has been crossed.

higher than expected

Highlights the element of surprise in exceeding the anticipated level.

outperforming expectations

Emphasizes the act of doing better than what was predicted or hoped for.

surmounting the benchmark

Replaces "target" with "benchmark", implying a standard that has been exceeded.

in excess of the aim

Uses more formal language, replacing "target" with "aim" and using "in excess of".

exceeding the benchmark

Focuses on surpassing a standard used for comparison.

greater than the desired level

Is a more descriptive and less concise alternative, emphasizing the desired quantity or degree.

FAQs

How do I use "above the target" in a sentence?

Use "above the target" to indicate that a goal, level, or expectation has been exceeded. For example, "The company's revenue was above the target this quarter."

What's a simple alternative to "above the target"?

Alternatives include "exceeding the target", "surpassing the goal", or "higher than expected" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "above the target" rather than "on target"?

"Above the target" indicates that the goal was exceeded, whereas "on target" means the goal was met exactly. Use "above the target" when performance is better than expected, and "on target" when it aligns precisely with expectations.

Is there a difference between using "above the target" and "exceeded the target"?

Both phrases indicate that a goal was surpassed. However, "above the target" describes a state of being beyond the target, while "exceeding the target" emphasizes the action of surpassing it. The choice depends on whether you want to focus on the state or the action.