it has been targeted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has been targeted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something has been chosen or aimed at for a specific purpose, often in contexts like marketing, security, or criticism. Example: "The new advertising campaign shows that it has been targeted towards younger audiences to increase brand awareness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Greece was picked out as vulnerable from the start of the crisis, but with the government struggling to persuade the markets to trust its plans to cut its deficits, it has been targeted by financial speculators who believe it could default on its debts.

The Guardian - Business

It has been targeted by anti-gentrification activists, and its high-pressure work culture was the subject of a New York Times investigation two years ago.

The New York Times - Tech

It has been targeted by people who objected to them serving seal.

The New York Times

The largest international military base in Afghanistan, it has been targeted in several attacks this year.

The Guardian

It has been targeted by grouse moor gamekeepers as a predator of grouse and a competitor of shooters.

The Guardian

It has been targeted for drug discovery on account of growing resistance to miltefosine in L. major.

Journal of Theoretical Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

In its indiscriminate killing, it has been targeting everybody: Christians, Jews, Yazidis and others, including women and children.

HuffPost

The Afghan government insists it has been targeting them and has killed several Pakistani Taliban commanders over the past two years.

BBC

About 70% of Hollywood revenues now come from outside the US and it has been targeting Asian audiences in particular.

BBC

It has been targeting cord cutters through launches on over-the-top services like CBS All Access, DirecTV Now, and Sling TV, too.

TechCrunch

It has been targeting cord cutters through launches on over-the-top services like CBS All Access, DirecTV Now, and Sling TV, too.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has been targeted" when you want to emphasize that something is being intentionally chosen or aimed at, whether for positive or negative reasons. For clarity, specify who is doing the targeting and why.

Common error

Avoid using "it has been targeted" without specifying who is doing the targeting. This can lead to confusion and weaken your writing. Always clarify the agent performing the action for better clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been targeted" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something (the 'it') is the recipient of a targeting action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. This passive voice allows focusing on the object or entity that is being acted upon rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it has been targeted" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that employs a passive construction to indicate that something has been intentionally selected or focused on, often for a negative purpose. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is acceptable and adaptable for news, scientific, and encyclopedic writing. It's essential to clarify who is doing the targeting to avoid ambiguity. Related alternatives include "it has been aimed at" and "it has been focused on". While versatile, clarity is paramount; always specify the agent performing the action whenever possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been aimed at

Focuses on the direction or intention of the targeting action.

it has been focused on

Highlights the concentration of attention or resources.

it has been singled out

Emphasizes the selection of something from a larger group.

it has been zeroed in on

Suggests a precise and accurate targeting.

it has been marked for

Implies a prior decision or designation for a specific purpose.

it is under attack

Highlights that there is an imminent threat

it has been subjected to

Emphasizes the experience of undergoing something, often negative.

it has come under fire

Suggests the targeted object has received criticism

it has been designated

The act of assigning target

it has been preselected

Emphasis on early selection

FAQs

How can I use "it has been targeted" in a sentence?

Use "it has been targeted" to indicate that something or someone is the focus of attention, often for a specific purpose. For example: "The company announced that "it has been targeted" by hackers."

What are some alternatives to "it has been targeted"?

You can use alternatives like "it has been aimed at", "it has been focused on", or "it has been singled out depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "it has been targeted"?

While "it has been targeted" is in the passive voice, it's often suitable when the actor is unknown or less important than the object being targeted. However, using the active voice (e.g., "Hackers have targeted the company") can provide more directness and clarity.

What does it mean when something "has been targeted"?

When something "has been targeted", it means that it has been intentionally selected or focused on for a specific action, often negative, such as an attack, criticism, or investigation. The specific implication depends on the context.