shape the trajectory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shape the trajectory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the influence or direction of a process, development, or outcome. Example: "The new policies are designed to shape the trajectory of economic growth in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Mr. Obama will not soon get a similar opportunity to shape the trajectory of his presidency.

The New York Times

If we have asked for more space, it is because we have people – adults and children – who need that space to create culture, understand themselves, and shape the trajectory of their lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

China and the US, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said, were at "a critical juncture, a time when the choices we make, big and small, will shape the trajectory of this relationship".

Independent

While other presidents have put the bully in the bully pulpit, Mr. Obama uses his megaphone, and the power that comes with it, sparingly, speaking out when he decides his voice can shape the trajectory of an issue and staying silent when he thinks it might be counterproductive.

The New York Times

As urban planning has sought to shape the trajectory of urban development, human geography has recorded and reported these efforts while also charting the transformations of cities that planning seeks to harness and control.

International Encyclopedia of Human Geography

We explore how new manufacturing and accounting discourses are received by employees, and how their (more or less accommodating) responses to such initiatives shape the trajectory of their introduction.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It is argued that the pre-existing conceptions of citizenship and the specific features of migration interact to shape the trajectories of emigrant quasi-citizenship.

Comparative Migration Studies

It is important to notice that we do not maintain that RRI excludes precaution, but the ambition to shape the trajectories of research and innovation in their initial stage is certainly predominant.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

This allows us to track and analyse in detail how changes in the phase portrait and quasi-potential landscape shape the trajectories as the values of the parameters are changing.

BMC Systems Biology

This process, gradual and more-or-less irreversible, shapes the trajectory of the child's life.Fortunately, taciturnity can be easily fixed.

The Economist

Yet he remained self-effacing about his role in shaping the trajectory of the medium: "I think anybody who had been moderately competent, reasonably alert to the vitality of what was actually going on in the medium would have done the same thing I did," he said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shape the trajectory", ensure that the subject influencing the trajectory is clearly defined. This clarifies who or what is exerting the influence.

Common error

Avoid using "shape the trajectory" without specifying the entity or force doing the shaping. This can lead to ambiguity and weaken the sentence's impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shape the trajectory" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of influencing or determining the course of something. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase as usable and correct. The examples show it used in contexts ranging from political agendas to personal development.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shape the trajectory" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that conveys the act of influencing or directing a course of action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not overly common, it finds frequent use in News & Media and Scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure that the agent doing the shaping is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "influence the path" or "determine the course" can be used for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

influence the path

Replaces "trajectory" with "path", a more general term for a course or direction.

determine the course

Uses "determine" instead of "shape", implying a stronger level of control over the direction.

mold the future direction

Emphasizes the future aspect and replaces "trajectory" with the more descriptive "future direction".

guide the development

Focuses on "development" and uses "guide" instead of "shape", suggesting a more subtle influence.

impact the progression

Replaces "shape" with "impact", indicating a less direct form of influence.

affect the evolution

Focuses on the "evolution" process, implying a gradual change over time.

direct the flow

Uses "flow" to represent the direction and "direct" to indicate a more controlled influence.

form the development

Use "form" instead of "shape", suggesting a more creative influence.

influence the progress

Substitutes trajectory for progress and shape for influence.

steer the future

Substitutes trajectory for future and shape for steer, indicating guide to the future.

FAQs

How can I use "shape the trajectory" in a sentence?

You can use "shape the trajectory" to describe actions or decisions that significantly influence the direction or outcome of something. For example, "The company's new strategy aims to "shape the trajectory" of its growth in the coming years."

What are some alternatives to "shape the trajectory"?

You can use alternatives like "influence the path", "determine the course", or "guide the development" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "shape the trajectory" or "influence the trajectory"?

"Shape the trajectory" and "influence the trajectory" are similar, but "shape" suggests a more active and deliberate effort to mold the outcome, while "influence" can be more subtle.

What's the difference between "shape the trajectory" and "design the trajectory"?

"Shape the trajectory" implies modifying an existing course, whereas "design the trajectory" suggests creating a plan or path from the outset.