incompatible objectives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incompatible objectives" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing goals or aims that cannot be achieved simultaneously or that conflict with each other. Example: "The two departments have incompatible objectives, making collaboration difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Owen Paterson has lauded its potential, telling a conference in September: "For too long we have allowed the lazy assumption that the environment and growth are incompatible objectives within the planning system.

The Guardian

Osborne should take heed of a speaker who preceded him on the same conference podium on Monday morning and be reminded of something he once said he believed: "For too long, we have allowed the lazy assumption that the environment and growth are incompatible objectives".

The Guardian

The TTS strategy is based on the triple bottom line sustainability concept which incorporates multiple and often incompatible objectives for the environmental, economic and social dimension of sustainability, e.g. reducing greenhouse gas emission, maintaining supply network cost competiveness, and creating new job opportunities.

Journal of Cleaner Production

In Syria the Obama administration has pursued incompatible objectives and combatants.

Huffington Post

More than a few energy experts have pointed out that those are incompatible objectives.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Chen and Lee (2004) proposed a multi-period multi-product multi-stage formulation with multi-incompatible objectives of a multiple stage SCN as an MINLP, where fuzzy sets were investigated to explain the uncertainties contained in product prices and market demands.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

This is because decision-making typically involves complex problems that are riddled with incompatible performance objectives and possess competing design requirements which are very difficult if not impossible to quantify and capture at the time that the supporting decision models are constructed.

Swarm Intelligence and Bio-Inspired Computation Theory and Applications

It turns qualities into quantities, or collapses subjective variations and "motives", which may be incompatible, into objective counts.

Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics

For this reason, it can be argued that this model is incompatible with objective indeterminism, since the alternative lines should not be counted as proper possibilities, see e.g. (MacFarlane 2003, p. 325).

SEP

(vi) The fact that an operatio is distinctive of human beings does not entail that that operatio is truly valuable, still less that it is obligatory, or that it is more valuable than alternative and incompatible ways or objectives of acting.

SEP

By 1819 they came into conflict with the new Dutch government and were seen as "incompatible" with its objectives, yet indispensable for the development of the region.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "incompatible objectives", clearly define the objectives in question to avoid ambiguity. Provide context to illustrate why they cannot be achieved simultaneously.

Common error

Avoid stating that objectives are "incompatible" without providing specific reasons or examples. A vague statement lacks impact and may confuse the reader. Explain the nature of the conflict.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incompatible objectives" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation where two or more objectives cannot be achieved simultaneously or where the pursuit of one hinders the attainment of another. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts, from environmental policy to political strategy.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incompatible objectives" is used to describe situations where goals or aims cannot be achieved simultaneously. It's considered grammatically correct and shows up in a number of different contexts including news, business and scientific publications. According to Ludwig, it's most frequently used in news and science publications. When using this phrase, it's important to provide clear context and examples to illustrate the conflict. While not exceptionally common, "incompatible objectives" provides a clear and concise way to communicate inherent contradictions or challenges in achieving desired outcomes. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a grammatically sound and useful expression for describing conflicting goals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting goals

Focuses on the conflict between the desired outcomes.

mutually exclusive aims

Emphasizes the impossibility of achieving both objectives simultaneously.

contradictory purposes

Highlights the opposing nature of the intended outcomes.

irreconcilable differences in goals

Stresses the inability to find common ground between the objectives.

opposing ambitions

Focuses on the conflicting desires or aspirations.

divergent aims

Emphasizes the separate and distinct nature of the objectives.

unharmonious goals

Highlights the lack of agreement or alignment between the objectives.

clashing ambitions

Stresses the active conflict and competition between the objectives.

antithetical objectives

Highlights that objectives are direct opposites.

non-convergent goals

Emphasizes the lack of a common endpoint or shared direction.

FAQs

How can I use "incompatible objectives" in a sentence?

You can use "incompatible objectives" to describe situations where goals or aims cannot be achieved at the same time or actively hinder each other. For example, "Balancing economic growth and environmental protection often presents "incompatible objectives" for policymakers".

What are some alternatives to "incompatible objectives"?

Alternatives include "conflicting goals", "mutually exclusive aims", or "contradictory purposes". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is more appropriate: "incompatible objectives" or "competing objectives"?

"Incompatible objectives" suggests a fundamental impossibility of achieving both, while "competing objectives" implies a struggle for resources or priority. The best choice depends on whether the objectives are fundamentally opposed or simply in competition.

What does it mean when objectives are described as "incompatible"?

When objectives are "incompatible", it means that pursuing one objective makes it difficult or impossible to achieve the other. They are not able to coexist harmoniously, often because they require different resources, strategies, or outcomes.