aspirational target

USAGE SUMMARY

'aspirational target' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a goal, or something someone is striving for, but may not necessarily be able to achieve. For example, "The company set an aspirational target of doubling sales in the next five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

It is a voluntary, aspirational, target.

The Guardian

Next they can define an aspirational target culture.

Harvard Business Review

It sets an aspirational target for the customer experience United delivers".

The New York Times

Hitting the Paris climate pact's aspirational target may be possible but it won't be easy.

MIT Technology Review

Dumped abroad at below cost, our cotton depresses prices and hurts farmers in poor nations like Mali or Burkina Faso that cannot set aspirational "target prices".

The New York Times

Nevertheless, the ETF has set an aspirational target for college leadership and management to reflect the ethnic make-up of the student population by 2020.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

The document includes a range of practical measures and achievable (and at times somewhat aspirational) targets.

Plant Diversity

"They're not requirements but aspirational targets – they are a starting point for negotiation".

The Guardian

Diffenbaugh, N.S., D. Singh and J.S. Mankin, Unprecedented climate events: historical changes, aspirational targets, and national commitments, Science Advances, 4(2), eaao3354, 2018.

Stanford University

What we'll see is another set of aspirational targets that will mean little if countries choose to ignore them.

The New York Times

These shouldn't be aspirational targets but instead be practical and achievable goals that flow directly from what the organisation is there to do.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting an "aspirational target", ensure it is ambitious enough to drive innovation and progress, but also realistic enough to maintain motivation and avoid discouragement.

Common error

Avoid treating an "aspirational target" as a guaranteed outcome. Clearly differentiate it from firm commitments or predictions to manage expectations and avoid potential disappointment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aspirational target" functions as a noun phrase that describes a specific type of goal. It denotes a target that is highly desirable and ambitious, intended to inspire significant effort and progress, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "aspirational target" is a noun phrase used to describe an ambitious and highly desirable goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for use. It's typically employed in professional settings, particularly in business, news, and science contexts. To enhance your writing, consider using synonyms such as "ambitious goal" or "stretch goal" to add variety. Remember that an "aspirational target" should be challenging yet attainable to effectively drive motivation and progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ambitious goal

Replaces 'target' with 'goal', emphasizing the intent or aim.

stretch goal

Implies a target that requires significant effort and may be difficult to achieve.

challenging objective

Focuses on the difficulty and purpose of the target.

lofty ambition

Highlights the elevated and grand nature of the aspiration.

idealistic aim

Suggests the target is based on ideals and may be somewhat unrealistic.

optimistic benchmark

Indicates a positive outlook on achieving the target.

audacious objective

Emphasizes the boldness and daring nature of the goal.

ambitious benchmark

Focuses on measuring progress against a high standard.

long-term aspiration

Highlights that the aim refers to longer horizon than a simple target

moonshot

Highlights the difficulty to achieve the target. Commonly used in the business world.

FAQs

What does "aspirational target" mean?

An "aspirational target" is a goal that is set higher than what is immediately achievable. It's intended to motivate significant progress and push boundaries, representing an ideal state to strive towards.

How do you use "aspirational target" in a sentence?

You might say, "The company's "aspirational target" is to become carbon neutral by 2030," indicating a challenging but desirable environmental goal.

What is a synonym for "aspirational target"?

Alternatives include "ambitious goal", "stretch goal", or "challenging objective", all suggesting a high level of ambition.

Is an "aspirational target" the same as a realistic goal?

No, an "aspirational target" is typically more ambitious and less immediately achievable than a realistic goal. Realistic goals are based on current capabilities and resources, while "aspirational targets" aim for a future state that may require significant changes or breakthroughs.