aimed to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aimed to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the intention or goal of a research project, study, or investigation. Example: "The researchers aimed to discover the underlying causes of the disease through extensive analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Harris aimed to discover the percentage of German civilians he had to kill in order to break the nation.His actions tainted the reputation of bomber command, and may have prolonged the war.

The Guardian - Opinion

Phillips leaves out Freud the scientist, who aimed to discover laws about the self; Freud the clinician, who aimed to cure; and (for the most part) Freud the provocateur and kook.

The New Yorker

The CLNR project aimed to discover the best solutions to address the constraints and challenges that will be placed on the electricity distribution network during the transition to a low carbon economy.

The Guardian

Our research aimed to discover the latent factors of the FLCAS by conducting two factor analyses.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

This study aimed to discover patterns in the social-ecological context of Swedish moose management.

Environmental Science & Policy

This part of the interview aimed to discover which obstacles the participants found the most difficult to detect and avoid.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

The scheme aimed to discover contenders who could be fast-tracked into sports, particularly rowing, handball and volleyball.

BBC

This study aimed to discover the effects of using Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR) in teaching reading to EFL learners.

Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences

We aimed to discover a framework of pedagogical knowledge for active-learning instruction within our participants' thinking, while also grounding our analysis in relevant prior work.

International Journal of STEM Education

This study aimed to discover the precise material composition and thickness (water hyacinth, rice straw, and banana pseudostem) of organic mulch sheet.

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

The practitioner of moral science aimed to discover what these principles are and the ways in which these desires, reasons, and motivations fit together.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "aimed to discover", ensure that the context clearly indicates a directed effort or investigation towards finding new information or understanding something previously unknown.

Common error

Avoid framing your sentences in a passive voice, which can obscure the actors performing the discovery. Instead of "It was aimed to discover...", opt for "The researchers aimed to discover...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aimed to discover" functions as a verb phrase indicating the purpose or intention behind an action or study. Ludwig shows numerous examples in scientific and journalistic contexts where the phrase clarifies the objective of research or investigations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "aimed to discover" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, particularly within formal and scientific registers. As Ludwig confirms, it serves to articulate the purpose of investigations and studies, highlighting the intent to find new information or understanding. While alternatives like "sought to find" or "intended to uncover" exist, "aimed to discover" remains a clear and effective choice for denoting intentionality in research and exploration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought to find

Replaces "aimed" with "sought", implying a determined attempt to find something.

set out to discover

Uses "set out" to emphasize the beginning of a journey or task focused on discovery.

intended to uncover

Shifts from "discover" to "uncover", suggesting revealing something previously hidden.

had the goal of discovering

Rephrases the aim as a specific goal, adding a layer of purposefulness.

undertook to reveal

Emphasizes the act of undertaking a project with the intent of revealing something.

strived to ascertain

Replaces "discover" with "ascertain", implying an effort to confirm or establish something definitively.

were designed to explore

Focuses on the design or planning aspect, using "explore" to suggest a broader investigation.

pursued the path to understanding

Emphasizes the process and direction towards gaining understanding through investigation.

aspired to learn

Uses "aspired" to show a desire and ambition to gain knowledge.

made an attempt at finding

Highlights the effort or trial aspect of the discovery process.

FAQs

How can I use "aimed to discover" in a sentence?

You can use "aimed to discover" to describe the purpose of a study, research, or investigation. For example: "The study "aimed to discover" the effects of the new drug on cancer cells".

What are some alternatives to "aimed to discover"?

Some alternatives to "aimed to discover" include "sought to find", "intended to uncover", or "set out to discover", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "aimed at discovering" or "aimed to discover"?

"Aimed to discover" is generally preferred and more common when describing a study's purpose. "Aimed at discovering" isn't incorrect, but less idiomatic. For instance, "The research "aimed to discover" new treatments" is more typical.

What's the difference between "aimed to discover" and "tried to discover"?

"Aimed to discover" suggests a planned and intentional effort with a specific goal, while "tried to discover" simply implies an attempt, without necessarily implying a structured plan. If you are talking about a research project, "aimed to discover" can be a better choice.