be geared towards

USAGE SUMMARY

"be geared towards" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to something being oriented or directed towards a certain goal or purpose. For example: "This training program is geared towards helping employees develop new skills and knowledge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"All of our policies should be geared towards keeping jobs and wealth inside the United States.

The Guardian

But the tax break should not be geared towards the rich, Mr. Rangel said.

The New York Times

Food systems need attention and can be geared towards promoting nutrition, for example through a greater emphasis on productivity and resilience of pulses, fruits and vegetables.

The Guardian

Sexual health services tend to be geared towards teenagers and young people, while advertising campaigns are commonly targeted at the under 25s.

Independent

Writing for The Oldie magazine, Ms Girouard praised an era when "everything seemed to be geared towards marriage" and "parents really didn't seem to care" about educating girls.

Independent

MTV took this and ran with it, all the way out of the park and home to mummy, inferring that the film "would be geared towards a very PG audience".

The Guardian - Film

Clearly in debt to the rather more dangerous Crystal Castles, Teeth have also toured with Sleigh Bells, but while those groups have developed a deep and powerful noise, Teeth's individuality seems to be geared towards novelty sounds.

The Guardian - Music

The song might be geared towards educating children how life on Earth began, but it's also quite fun: "Photosynthesis does not involve a camera, or a synthesiser although that's interesting too".

The Guardian - Music

Instead, strategies of gaining additional training places should be geared towards the economic interests of enterprises.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Strategies of gaining additional training places therefore should be geared towards the economic interests of enterprises.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Future work will be geared towards the holistic evaluation and validation of such an intervention.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be geared towards" when you want to emphasize that something is specifically designed or organized to achieve a particular outcome. For instance, "The new marketing campaign is geared towards attracting younger customers."

Common error

Avoid using "geared" with nouns that do not imply a sense of direction or purpose. For example, it's better to say "The program is geared towards skill development" rather than "The program is geared towards happiness."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be geared towards" functions as a linking verb phrase followed by a preposition, indicating a specific purpose or direction. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be geared towards" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate that something is designed or directed towards a specific goal. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and suitable for a variety of contexts. With a neutral register, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business communications. While alternatives like "be directed at" or "be tailored to" exist, "be geared towards" effectively conveys intentionality and purpose in a wide range of situations. Remember to use it with nouns that align with a sense of direction or purpose to maintain clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be directed at

This alternative focuses on the target or recipient of the action.

be aimed at

This alternative emphasizes the intended target or audience.

be tailored to

This phrase highlights the customization or adaptation to a specific purpose.

be oriented towards

This alternative suggests a focus or alignment with a particular goal.

be designed for

This phrase emphasizes the purpose or intent behind the design.

be intended for

This alternative highlights the planned or expected use.

be focused on

This phrase emphasizes concentration on a particular objective.

cater to

This alternative highlights the act of providing what is needed or desired by someone.

target

This is a shorter, more direct way of saying something is directed towards a specific goal.

serve

This phrase indicates the purpose of something is to benefit or assist.

FAQs

What does "be geared towards" mean?

The phrase "be geared towards" means to be designed or organized to achieve a particular aim or purpose. It suggests a deliberate focus and direction.

How can I use "be geared towards" in a sentence?

You can use "be geared towards" to describe how a plan, program, or strategy is designed to achieve a specific goal. For example, "The training program is geared towards improving employee performance."

What are some alternatives to "be geared towards"?

You can use alternatives like "be directed at", "be aimed at", or "be tailored to" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "be geared towards" and "be oriented towards"?

While both phrases indicate direction, "be geared towards" implies a more active and intentional design for a specific outcome, whereas "be oriented towards" suggests a general focus or alignment.