set out to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"set out to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an intention to achieve a specific goal. For example, "He set out to be the best tennis player in the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I never set out to be one.

The New Yorker

He set out to be an author.

The New Yorker

I never set out to be rich and famous, I set out to be happy.

Independent

You said you never set out to be a C.E.O.

The New York Times

JOSEPH CINO didn't set out to be a pioneer.

The New York Times

Doubles players don't set out to be doubles players.

The New York Times

STEVEN ROMICK didn't set out to be a shareholder activist.

The New York Times

HONESTLY, I didn't set out to be a hoarder.

The New York Times

"In fact I never set out to be an actor.

The New York Times

Dr. Redelmeier did not set out to be a researcher.

The New York Times - Science

HOBERMAN I didn't set out to be a critic.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "set out to be" to clearly express an initial aim or intention, especially when describing someone's early goals or aspirations.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "set out to be". Ensure the tense aligns with the timeline of the action being described. For example, use past tense to describe past intentions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set out to be" functions as an intentional marker, indicating the initial aim or purpose someone had for their life or career. It introduces a state or role that someone actively planned or wished to achieve. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form in written English, highlighting it’s use for describing intentions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "set out to be" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express an initial intention or goal. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It functions as an intentional marker, often found in news articles, business documents, and general writing to provide context about someone's aspirations. While other alternatives like "aimed to become" or "intended to be" exist, "set out to be" remains a versatile and reliable choice for conveying original purposes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set out with the intention of being

Expands the original phrase to include the explicit mention of intention.

intended to be

Emphasizes the original plan or purpose behind an action.

aimed to become

Focuses on the goal of becoming something, highlighting aspiration.

aspired to be

Highlights a strong desire or ambition to achieve a certain status.

sought to be

Indicates an active effort to achieve a particular outcome or identity.

endeavored to be

Implies a serious and determined effort to reach a certain state.

strove to be

Implies a dedicated and persistent effort towards a goal.

had the goal of becoming

Directly states the presence of a specific objective to transform.

undertook to be

Suggests a formal or deliberate commitment to assuming a role or identity.

pursued the path to becoming

Highlights the active pursuit and journey towards a specific identity.

FAQs

How can I use "set out to be" in a sentence?

You can use "set out to be" to describe someone's initial intention or goal. For example, "He "set out to be" a doctor, but later changed his career path".

What are some alternatives to "set out to be"?

Some alternatives include "aimed to become", "intended to be", or "aspired to be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "set out being" instead of "set out to be"?

While "set out" can be followed by a gerund in other contexts, when expressing intention, it's more grammatically correct to use the infinitive form, "set out to be". Using "set out being" may sound awkward or incorrect.

What's the difference between "set out to be" and "ended up being"?

"Set out to be" describes an initial intention or goal, while "ended up being" describes the eventual outcome, which may or may not align with the original intention. For example, "He "set out to be" a teacher, but "ended up being" a software engineer".