its intended target

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "its intended target" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the specific object, person, or goal that something is designed to affect or reach. Example: "The missile successfully hit its intended target, demonstrating the accuracy of the new guidance system."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And occasionally, it misses its intended target.

The New York Times - Sports

That it appears to have somehow pinched everyone in some way can only mean it hit its intended target.

Los Angeles Times

The internets are full of declarative statements about satire these days, the most common of which being that "satire does not work unless it portrays its intended target".

Huffington Post

Last week, the government said it will miss its intended target for full implementation of the reform before the end of 2017 by 700,000 people.

BBC

But Iran said it had caught Stuxnet before it managed to reach its intended target - controllers for centrifuges.

BBC

It killed not only its intended target, but also two neighboring families, and left behind a trail of cluster bombs that subsequently killed more innocents.

The New York Times

A missile destroyed in the boost phase will never reach its intended target -- whether it is Washington or Paris or American forces abroad.

The New York Times

It was the only one that failed to hit its intended target (which was probably the Capitol).

The Economist

The bomb killed its intended target, a leader of the militant group Hamas, but it also killed at least 14 other people, including 9 children.

The New York Times

Its intended target?

Independent

That pass was high and behind its intended target.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "its intended target", ensure the context clearly defines what "it" refers to. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the subject in the same sentence or a nearby one.

Common error

Avoid using "its intended target" when referring to broad, undefined aims. This phrase works best with concrete, well-defined targets rather than abstract goals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "its intended target" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. This specifies the recipient or objective that something is meant to affect. As shown by Ludwig, it clearly defines the goal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "its intended target" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to precisely define the aim or goal of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is widely applicable across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and formal business settings. While versatile, ensuring clarity in the context surrounding "it" helps to prevent ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "its designated recipient" or "its planned objective" can be used to diversify language while maintaining precision. Using this phrase effectively enhances clarity and focus in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

its designated recipient

Replaces "target" with "recipient", emphasizing the receiver of something.

its designed recipient

Emphasizes that the recipient was specifically designed for.

its specific objective

Adds emphasis by specifying the precise objective.

its planned objective

Substitutes "target" with "objective", focusing on the goal to be achieved.

its chosen recipient

Replaces "intended" with "chosen", highlighting a selection process.

its primary goal

Replaces "intended target" with "primary goal", highlighting the main objective.

its expected receiver

Uses "expected" and "receiver" to convey the anticipated recipient.

its purpose-built objective

Focuses on the objective being specifically built for a purpose.

its predetermined aim

Substitutes with "predetermined aim", emphasizing that the aim was set beforehand.

the goal in mind

Shifts the focus to the overarching goal.

FAQs

How can I use "its intended target" in a sentence?

Use "its intended target" when you want to specify the planned or designed recipient or goal of an action or object. For example, "The missile reached its intended target".

What's a good alternative to "its intended target"?

Depending on the context, you could use "its designated recipient", "its planned objective", or "its primary goal" as alternatives.

Is "its intended target" formal or informal language?

"Its intended target" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for various writing styles. The formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary than on the phrase itself.

How does "its intended target" differ from "its original target"?

"Its intended target" refers to the planned or designed target from the beginning. "Its original target" implies that the target may have changed over time or that there was a different target initially.