achieve their ends

USAGE SUMMARY

"achieve their ends" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone seeking to accomplish a certain goal or outcome. For example, "The committee worked hard to achieve their ends before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Cooperation is preferred, but not necessarily required to achieve their ends.

The New York Times

A minority of dissenters have turned to violence to achieve their ends.

The New Yorker

The terrorists will not achieve their ends by blowing up innocents.

The New York Times

Instead, they scheme to achieve their ends indirectly, by pitting employees against one another.

The New York Times

They were prepared to do anything — crush people's families, their marriages — to achieve their ends.

The New York Times

While these folks sometimes achieve their ends, all is not well in comment world.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

In some cases, like the West Side of Manhattan, they effectively sanctioned tearing down vital neighborhoods to achieve their end.

The New York Times

They are also non-homogenous and utilise differing qualities to achieve their end goal, be it adhesive by glues, anchorage by hooking or physical interference of structures or probabilistic frictional fastening for instance.

Robotics and Biomimetics

He also became something of a pacifist, for his own experience had taught him that wars were seldom either righteous or effective in achieving their ends.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They argued that since people were such bad decision makers we should nudge them in the direction of their own desired goals by orchestrating their choices so that they were more likely to do what achieves their ends.

SEP

"But they've achieved their end result: scaring the players and the industry".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing strategies of groups or organizations, using "achieve their ends" can succinctly convey their ultimate goals, especially when those goals involve complex or multifaceted outcomes. For instance, "The company used aggressive marketing tactics to achieve their ends of increasing market share."

Common error

Avoid using "achieve their ends" when you actually mean "justify the means". The phrase focuses on the final outcome, not the methods used to get there. Ensure your writing accurately reflects whether you're discussing goals or strategies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "achieve their ends" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful accomplishment of a specific goal or objective. It describes the action of attaining a desired outcome, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "achieve their ends" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that signifies the successful attainment of goals or objectives. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for use in various contexts, predominantly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific articles. While versatile, it's important to differentiate it from phrases like "justify the means", which focus on the methods employed rather than just the outcome. When seeking alternative expressions, consider options such as "accomplish their goals" or "realize their objectives" to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accomplish their goals

Replaces "ends" with "goals", focusing on specific objectives rather than broader outcomes.

realize their objectives

Uses "realize" which implies making something a reality; "objectives" suggests planned targets.

attain their aims

"Attain" suggests reaching a desired position or level; "aims" are directional intentions.

reach their targets

"Targets" implies specific measurable goals, often used in business or strategic contexts.

fulfill their ambitions

"Fulfill" emphasizes satisfying a strong desire or aspiration; "ambitions" are long-term aspirations.

bring their plans to fruition

This phrase suggests completing a plan and seeing it succeed, adding a sense of finality and success.

execute their intentions

"Execute" implies carrying out a plan with precision; "intentions" are purposeful actions.

make their dreams a reality

Emphasizes turning aspirational dreams into tangible outcomes, adding a personal touch.

win out

Implies overcoming obstacles or competition to achieve success, adding a competitive element.

get what they want

A more direct and informal way of saying achieving the desired outcome.

FAQs

What does "achieve their ends" mean?

The phrase "achieve their ends" means to successfully accomplish one's goals or objectives. It implies a successful completion of intended outcomes, regardless of the methods used.

Is it correct to say "achieve its ends"?

Yes, you can say "achieve its ends" when referring to a singular entity (e.g., a company or organization). For example, "The project successfully achieved its ends".

What can I say instead of "achieve their ends"?

You can use alternatives like "accomplish their goals", "realize their objectives", or "attain their aims" depending on the context.

How does "achieve their ends" differ from "justify the means"?

"Achieve their ends" focuses on reaching a goal, while "justify the means" implies that the methods used to reach that goal may be questionable but are considered acceptable because of the positive outcome. The former is about success, the latter about rationalization.