target efforts on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "target efforts on" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "target efforts at" or "target efforts towards." You can use it when discussing the focus of initiatives or resources in a specific direction or area.
Example: "We need to target our efforts at improving customer satisfaction to enhance our brand reputation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It would also be important to target efforts on subgroups that are persistently at-risk for high SHS exposure, namely the young, males, and non-Hispanic Blacks.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Trump helped the Clinton campaign's targeting efforts on Tuesday when he acknowledged pressuring a Miss Universe winner, Alicia Machado, to lose weight, an attack Mrs. Clinton lodged in the memorable closing minutes of the debate.

The New York Times

Admittedly, when it takes until the 95th minute to get an equaliser at Colchester, with their 21st on-target effort of the afternoon, even when playing well, the job can sometimes have its frustrations.

BBC

Instead it calls for a "proportionate response" including targeted efforts to identify and spy on suspected extremists.

The Guardian

The hearing shed little new light on the origins of the targeting efforts or on whether the matter was known outside the independent I.R.S. Democrats on the committee pressed their case that Congress needed to step in with clearer rules that prevent tax-exempt "social welfare" organizations from primarily engaging in electoral politics.

The New York Times

Thus, based on genetic evidence, we conclude that one strategy would be to target surveillance efforts on species of coastal regions in the areas of geographic proximity to current sources of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.

Evolutionary Applications

As my colleague discussed, Presidents Obama and Piñera should endorse targeted efforts together on energy efficiency and non-conventional renewable energy.

Huffington Post

That is why we expect all trusts to look at how they compare with others across all the different survey areas, and to target their efforts on bringing themselves up to the standards of the best.

The Guardian

However, the large number of ships calling at China's ports- for instance, over 68,000 OGVs call at the Port of Shanghai every year versus 28,000 OGVs at the Ports of Rotterdam, Europe's largest port - requires a more efficient way to target enforcement efforts on ships that have higher potential for non-compliance.

Huffington Post

Countries that began accreditation over the past 15 20 years have had the opportunity to focus more exclusively on improvement and to target their efforts on the areas of most concern.

Globalization and Health

We chose to start our interventions 8 12 weeks after surgery, where the six orthopaedic departments that contribute patients to SIP routinely schedule postoperative control, and where we thought that we would be able to target our efforts on the subgroup of patients with continuing shoulder problems and an increased likelihood of chronic disability.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey directing resources or attention, prefer using the phrases "target efforts at" or "target efforts towards". This ensures grammatical correctness and aligns with standard English usage.

Common error

Avoid using "on" after "target efforts". The correct prepositions are "at" or "towards". For example, instead of "target efforts on improving customer service", use "target efforts at improving customer service".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "target efforts on" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun and preposition, indicating the direction of actions or resources. However, its grammatical correctness is questionable, as noted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "target efforts on" appears in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates a preference for alternatives like "target efforts at" or "target efforts towards". The phrase aims to express a focus of energy toward a specific goal. Despite its presence in both news and scientific sources, adopting more standard phrasing enhances clarity and credibility. Therefore, opting for "target efforts at" or "direct efforts towards" is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

direct efforts towards

This alternative replaces "target on" with the more standard preposition "towards", providing a clearer and more grammatically accepted phrasing.

focus efforts on

This alternative replaces "target" with "focus", creating a grammatically correct and semantically similar expression.

concentrate efforts on

This alternative replaces "target" with "concentrate", offering a synonymous expression with a slight shift in emphasis towards intensity.

aim efforts at

This alternative changes "target on" to "aim at", resulting in a more common and grammatically sound construction.

gear efforts towards

This alternative uses "gear towards" instead of "target on", implying a strategic alignment of efforts.

orient efforts to

This alternative uses "orient to" suggesting a directional adjustment of efforts.

channel efforts into

This alternative replaces "target on" with "channel into", suggesting a redirection of efforts towards a specific area.

devote efforts to

This alternative uses "devote to", indicating a commitment of resources and efforts.

dedicate efforts to

Similar to devote, this highlights a commitment and allocation of efforts.

apply efforts to

This suggests putting efforts into action for a specific purpose.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use after "target efforts"?

The correct prepositions to use after "target efforts" are "at" or "towards". Using "on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Therefore you should "target efforts at" or "target efforts towards".

What can I say instead of "target efforts on"?

Alternatives to "target efforts on" include "focus efforts on", "direct efforts towards", or "aim efforts at". These options are grammatically standard and convey a similar meaning.

Is "target efforts on" grammatically correct?

While sometimes used, "target efforts on" is not considered grammatically correct by most style guides. It is preferable to use "target efforts at" or "target efforts towards".

How do I properly use "target efforts at" or "target efforts towards" in a sentence?

Use "target efforts at/towards" to indicate where you are directing resources or attention. For example, "We must target our efforts at improving customer satisfaction" or "The company is targeting its efforts towards expanding into new markets".