hitting benchmark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hitting benchmark" is not entirely correct in standard English; it should be "hitting a benchmark" or "hitting benchmarks." You can use it when discussing achieving specific performance standards or goals in various contexts, such as business, education, or personal development.
Example: "Our team is focused on hitting benchmarks to ensure we meet our quarterly targets."

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some sites, like those owned by Gawker Media, give bloggers retainers and then bonuses for hitting benchmarks, like if the pages they write are viewed 100,000 times a month.

The New York Times - Tech

Thereafter, enrollment reversed course, growing steadily through mid-century, hitting benchmarks of 3,036 students in 1961, 6,096 students in 1971, and 10,161 students in 1981.

Los Angeles Times

Under the revised deal, brokered by Cardin and committee chairman Corker (R-Tenn)., the Senate would have a 30-day time frame for reviewing administration requests to ease sanctions on Iran in exchange for Iran hitting benchmarks for limiting its nuclear program.

Huffington Post

Worldwide ticket sales are over $100 million, considered the Hollywood hit benchmark.

Forbes

Educators and parents have complained that No Child Left Behind focuses too narrowly on standardized tests and then prescribes stringent consequences for schools that failed to hit benchmarks.

The New York Times

With Orlando's roaring arrival as a booming new market, the NWSL has hit benchmarks that past leagues in the US and abroad never could.

The Guardian - Sport

The S.& P. 500 crossed 1,000 points early last week, hitting that benchmark for the first time since last autumn.

The New York Times

"In particular, the crude focus on a single summary statistic (the percentage of five A*-Cs) has forced the profession to concentrate on hitting that benchmark because of the dire consequences of failing to achieve that magic number".

Independent

Overcrowding in American prisons is not surprising given that the United States has the largest incarcerated population in the world, recently hitting a benchmark of one in 100 adults now being behind bars.

The New York Times

Hitting the benchmark early enabled Zilber to negotiate favorable loan changes and advance more quickly to construction, shaving several million dollars off the cost of development.

Forbes

The draft regulation proposes moving oversight of the scandal-hit benchmark from London to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hitting benchmark", consider adding 'a' or 'the' before 'benchmark' for clarity. For example, prefer "hitting a benchmark" or "hitting the benchmark" over just "hitting benchmark".

Common error

A frequent mistake is omitting the article ('a' or 'the') before "benchmark". Without it, the phrase can sound slightly awkward. Always include an article to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hitting benchmark" functions as a verb phrase combined with a noun, indicating the action of reaching or achieving a specific standard or goal. This usage aligns with examples provided by Ludwig, though it's often improved by adding an article.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hitting benchmark" refers to the act of achieving a specific goal or standard. While generally acceptable, it's often considered more grammatically correct and clear to include an article, such as in ""hitting a benchmark"" or "hitting the benchmark". Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is used in various contexts, including news, academia, and business. Though relatively rare, its meaning is well-understood, and several alternative phrases exist, such as ""achieving a target"" or ""meeting a standard"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieving a target

Focuses on the act of reaching a specific goal or objective, similar to "hitting benchmark" but uses more generic terms.

meeting a standard

Highlights the action of fulfilling a defined requirement or level of performance.

reaching a milestone

Emphasizes the attainment of a significant point in a process or project.

attaining a goal

Focuses on successfully achieving a desired outcome, mirroring the accomplishment aspect of hitting a benchmark.

satisfying criteria

Highlights the fulfillment of specific requirements or conditions.

passing a threshold

Denotes exceeding a defined limit or level, akin to surpassing a benchmark.

fulfilling requirements

Stresses the completion of necessary conditions or obligations.

achieving success

Highlights the attainment of a positive outcome or accomplishment, similar to reaching a benchmark.

obtaining results

Focuses on the acquisition of specific outcomes or achievements.

accomplishing objectives

Emphasizes the successful completion of planned tasks or goals, mirroring the completion aspect of hitting a benchmark.

FAQs

How can I use "hitting benchmark" in a sentence?

You can use "hitting benchmark" in sentences like "The team is focused on "hitting a benchmark" this quarter" or "Hitting the benchmark early allowed them to negotiate favorable terms".

What are some alternatives to "hitting benchmark"?

Alternatives include "achieving a target", "meeting a standard", or "reaching a milestone", depending on the context.

Is it more correct to say "hitting a benchmark" or "hitting benchmark"?

While "hitting benchmark" is used, ""hitting a benchmark"" is generally considered more grammatically correct as it includes the indefinite article.

What does it mean to "hit a benchmark"?

To "hit a benchmark" means to successfully achieve a specific goal or standard that has been set as a measure of progress or success.