common target

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "common target" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a shared goal or objective that multiple parties aim to achieve. For example, "The team worked together to reach a common target in their project." Alternative expressions include "shared goal" and "joint objective."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Political correctness is a fairly common target.

The New Yorker

The false consolations of religion were a common target of Maxwell Davies's rage.

The Guardian - Music

The younger excellent manager was the more common target in Germany, the U.S., Poland, and France.

Harvard Business Review

In addition, a social movement is much easier to mobilize once participants identify a common target.

The Washington Post

The older excellent manager was the more common target in Italy and India.

Harvard Business Review

SPRY4 is a common target of miR-411-5p miR-411-5p miR-411-5p

Nature

The police have also overtaken government, the military and business to become the most common target of terrorists.

The Guardian

The transforming growth factor-β pathway is a common target of drugs that prevent experimental diabetic retinopathy.

Harvard University

A giant snowball fight — with police cars and sport utility vehicles a common target — intensified.

The New York Times

Many on the 8chan message board took aim at a common target of bigoted conspiracy theorists: Jews.

The Washington Post

Liu, J. et al. Calcineurin is a common target of cyclophilin cyclosporin A and FKBP FK506 complexes.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In social or political contexts, use this phrase to identify a group or entity that is frequently criticized or attacked by different opposing sides.

Common error

Writers often use "common target" when they actually mean "common goal". While a goal is something you hope to achieve for your own benefit, a target is often the object of an external action, such as an attack, a measurement, or a scientific intervention. Use 'target' when there is an 'actor' aiming at the 'subject'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "common target" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'common' modifies the noun 'target'. In this construction, 'common' does not mean 'ordinary' but rather 'shared' or 'frequent'. According to Ludwig, it often serves as the complement of the verb 'to be' (e.g., "X is a "common target"") or the object of a preposition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Informal Wiki

3%

Reference & Idioms

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "common target" is a robust and highly versatile expression that bridges the gap between scientific precision and journalistic reporting. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its dominance in Science and News & Media, where it effectively describes everything from molecular targets in drug development to political figures in social critiques. While it is often interchangeable with "shared target", it carries a unique weight that suggests either a consensus of focus or a repetition of occurrence. Writers should be careful not to confuse it with 'common goal', as a 'target' usually implies being the subject of an external action rather than an internal aspiration. Overall, it is a safe, professional, and clear choice for any formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared target

emphasizes the communal nature of the objective or recipient

common objective

shifts focus from a specific mark to a broader strategic purpose

joint target

implies a collaborative effort between two or more specific parties

mutual aim

suggests a shared desire or intent between parties

collective goal

focuses more on the aspirational achievement than the specific point of attack

frequent target

highlights the repetition of being targeted rather than the shared nature of the act

shared purpose

removes the 'target' metaphor in favor of a more abstract alignment

primary target

specifies that the subject is the main point of focus among many

universal target

suggests something targeted by almost everyone or in every case

usual suspect

an idiomatic alternative used when a target is predictably chosen

FAQs

What is the difference between a "common target" and a "common goal"?

A "common target" is typically the object of an action or study (like a molecule or a political entity), whereas a "common goal" is an aspirational outcome that parties work together to achieve.

Can I use "shared target" instead of "common target"?

Yes, "shared target" is a perfect synonym and can often feel more collaborative in professional writing.

How do you use "common target" in a scientific sentence?

In science, you might say, "The enzyme is a "common target" for several unrelated antifungal drugs," to show that different medications all attack the same biological point.

Is "common target" formal enough for a research paper?

Absolutely. Data from Ludwig shows it is frequently used in high-impact journals like Nature and Science to describe "shared molecular pathways".