aiming for greatness

USAGE SUMMARY

"aiming for greatness" is an example of correct and usable written English.
It is often used to express a desire to achieve something great or to aspire to do something great, either for oneself or someone else. For example, you could say: "My mother has been aiming for greatness since she was a young girl. Now she works as a successful businesswoman."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

These regular shots of energy keep the story buzzing, even as they bloat the running time, but Scorsese is aiming for greatness here, and there's no reining him in.

The Guardian - Film

But they are all aiming for greatness: fighting to get our attention, and to hold it, in a culture that is flooded with words, sounds, and pictures; fighting to surprise, to entertain, to teach, and to move not only us but generations of readers to come.

The New Yorker

"They are all aiming for greatness: fighting to get our attention, and to hold it, in a culture that is flooded with words, sounds and pictures; fighting to surprise, to entertain, to teach, and to move not only us but generations of readers to come".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

His next move will be worth watching out for, because it seems as if Hodgson has got all the tools necessary to aim for greatness.

The Guardian

The libretto — a collaboration between Miller and the playwright Arnold Weinstein, who also wrote the text for Bolcom's first major opera, "McTeague" — is charmingly dated... "A View from the Bridge" falls short of greatness, but it does not aim for greatness, either.

The New Yorker

"John Henry Days" is a novel that aims for greatness, aims for empathy on every level and succeeds more often than not.

Los Angeles Times

Once upon a time it may have been easier to reconcile aiming for both greatness and profits.

The Guardian - Books

The humility is touching, but Jeter has been aiming for Yankee greatness for most of his life.

Forbes

The entire film has an oddly underdone quality to it, as if aiming not for greatness but to simply be passable.

Los Angeles Times

From great videos to the influence of superstars to, of course, the comedy factor, you can aim for viral greatness in your content.

Forbes

Avoid aiming for faces.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aiming for greatness" when you want to convey a sense of ambition and high aspiration, especially in contexts where continuous improvement and exceptional results are desired.

Common error

Avoid substituting concrete actions with the phrase "aiming for greatness" too frequently; balance it with specific, actionable goals to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aiming for greatness" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun that describes the act of striving for exceptional achievement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely recognized.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "aiming for greatness" is a grammatically sound and meaningful expression used to convey ambition and the pursuit of exceptional achievement. While Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage, its frequency is relatively uncommon, mostly appearing in news and media. When writing, consider balancing this phrase with specific, actionable goals. Alternatives like "striving for excellence" or "aspiring to excellence" can add nuance depending on the context. Ultimately, "aiming for greatness" serves as a powerful way to express intention and high aspiration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

striving for excellence

Emphasizes the pursuit of superior quality and skill.

aspiring to excellence

Highlights the ambition to achieve high standards.

pursuing excellence

Focuses on the active effort to reach a high level of achievement.

reaching for the stars

Uses a metaphorical expression to convey aiming for ambitious goals.

shooting for the moon

Similar to 'reaching for the stars', but with a different celestial body.

endeavoring to achieve greatness

More formal and emphasizes determined effort.

seeking to attain greatness

Highlights the quest for significant accomplishment.

targeting exceptional achievement

Focuses on setting a specific goal of high performance.

desiring outstanding success

Emphasizes the wish for remarkable positive outcomes.

wanting remarkable accomplishments

Simple and direct expression of aiming for high-level achievements.

FAQs

How can I use "aiming for greatness" in a sentence?

You can use "aiming for greatness" to describe someone's ambition or a company's strategic goals. For example, "The company is "aiming for greatness" by investing heavily in research and development."

What are some alternatives to "aiming for greatness"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "striving for excellence", "aspiring to excellence", or "pursuing excellence".

Is "aiming for greatness" formal or informal?

"Aiming for greatness" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "endeavoring to achieve greatness" might be preferred in very formal settings.

What's the difference between "aiming for greatness" and "achieving greatness"?

"Aiming for greatness" describes the process of trying to achieve something significant, while "achieving greatness" indicates that the goal has been successfully reached. One is aspirational, and the other is a statement of accomplishment.