personal targets

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "personal targets" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to individual goals or objectives that someone aims to achieve. For example, "She set personal targets for her fitness journey." Alternative expressions include "individual goals" and "personal objectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

After that, Rooney has a couple of other personal targets that are within reach.

The Guardian - Sport

The report also says some jobcentre staff are sometimes given personal targets, but only after being disciplined.

The Guardian

MyBO also made giving money a social event: supporters could set personal targets, run their own fund-raising efforts, and watch personal fund-­raising thermometers rise.

MIT Technology Review

Commitment to the team score prevented a free-rider effect — individuals didn't stop trying when they hit their own personal targets.

Harvard Business Review

Importantly, students are encouraged to take ownership of their own learning during outdoor learning sessions and teachers ask the children to set personal targets such as improving resilience, problem solving and working with others.

The Guardian

That was me setting my own personal targets.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

One way is the method of personalization, using a custom-made approach and increased personal targeting of content.

Huffington Post

Götze was his personal target.

The Guardian - Sport

I decided my personal target should be to make one hole in three shots.

The Guardian - Travel

Becoming a Personal Target In the end, the raiders got nothing from Hermitage.

The New York Times

Already, he said, an Idaho businessman has become "a personal target" of the president's.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional settings, this phrase effectively distinguishes between company-mandated KPIs and an employee's own growth desires.

Common error

Avoid using "personal targets" when you actually mean "personalized targets". While the former implies goals an individual sets for themselves, the latter usually refers to targets tailored for an individual by an external system or manager.

Linguistic Context

In linguistic terms, "personal targets" functions as a noun phrase where "personal" acts as an attributive adjective modifying the plural noun "targets". Ludwig AI confirms its use as a direct object in most contexts, such as "reaching targets" or "setting targets".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Informal Speech

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "personal targets" is a robust and grammatically correct term used extensively across various fields. Ludwig AI showcases its versatility in contexts ranging from professional athlete milestones to medical recovery plans and corporate performance reviews. It effectively communicates the idea of individualized ambition and is most frequently paired with verbs of achievement like "hit", "reach" or "surpass". When writing, ensure you are not confusing it with "personalized targets", which suggests an external force is doing the tailoring. Overall, it is a high-utility phrase for any writer looking to discuss self-improvement or individual metrics within a larger system.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individual goals

Offers a more common and slightly more general alternative often used in professional development.

personal objectives

Higher register, typically found in formal business reviews or academic planning.

personal aims

A softer alternative that suggests intent rather than a hard numerical target.

self-imposed goals

Clearly indicates that the targets were not mandated by an employer or external force.

self-defined benchmarks

Emphasizes the act of the individual setting the standard rather than following an external one.

individualized milestones

Focuses on specific points of progress rather than the end result.

private ambitions

Shifts focus toward internal desires that may not be shared with an organization.

internal metrics

Used in a more technical or organizational context to describe how one measures themselves.

subjective targets

Highlights that the goals are based on personal feelings or opinions rather than external data.

private desiderata

A very formal, almost archaic term for things that are personally desired or wanted.

FAQs

How to use "personal targets" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe individual aspirations, for example: "She managed to exceed her "personal targets" for the quarter while maintaining a healthy work-life balance."

What can I say instead of "personal targets"?

You can use alternatives like "individual goals", "personal objectives" or "private ambitions" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "set personal targets"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. Authoritative sources like The Guardian frequently use the phrase "set personal targets" when discussing education, sports and career development.

What is the difference between "personal targets" and "professional goals"?

The term "personal targets" is broader and can include fitness, health or hobbies, whereas "professional goals" specifically relates to one's career and workplace achievements.