target in the name of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "target in the name of" is not standard and may be confusing in written English.
It could be used in contexts where one is discussing actions taken for a specific purpose or justification, but clarity may be compromised. Example: "They decided to target in the name of social justice, aiming to address systemic inequalities."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Three months earlier, Mr. Rajoy abruptly broke ranks with his European counterparts at a Brussels meeting by lowering Spain's budget deficit target in the name of Spanish sovereignty.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The worst extremists have resorted to terrorist attacks against western targets in the name of Islam.Nonetheless, it is important to keep the problem in perspective.

The Economist

But the passports crisis in recent weeks has shown what happens when jobs are cut and offices are closed for no reason other than to meet arbitrary spending targets in the name of austerity.

The Guardian

Speaking Sunday from Jordan's capital Amman, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned that France would continue to strike IS targets "in the name of self-defense".

Vice

"But for me, it encourages me to be ready for how I would target them in the name of the transitional federal government".

The New York Times

The political calculation is clear: across Europe, parties on both the right and the left are targeting subsidies in the name of populism and austerity.

The New Yorker

It offers an e-commerce "intelligence" platform that provides retailers with insights relating to customer behaviour and product performance and enables them to take subsequent actions, such as follow up offers and further targeting — all in the name of attracting the right customers and boosting loyalty for existing ones, and shifting more product, of course.

TechCrunch

If they think that it is different from the travel ban, they should say why, in ways that serve to reject Trump's assertion that the courts had no right to review the ban in the first place and to clarify the limits of a President's ability to target certain groups in the name of security.

The New Yorker

Now, thanks to our sleek modern weaponry, Americans no longer have to kill civilians in indiscriminate numbers in wartime, and can despise and fear enemies who hold to the idea that anyone can be targeted for death in the name of a fervent cause.

The New Yorker

With these lame opposition parties sitting on the fringes of political despair, they have now become easy to co-opt in support of your misguided domestic, foreign, and Palestinian-targeted policies, all in the name of national unity.

Huffington Post

Another asked "Is it possible Michelle Shocked was a target of fear-mongering in the name of a protection racket?" The most prominent reflected directly on the recent controversy: "What would you say to Michelle Shocked if you had waited to hear her side of the story vs. what was reported?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "target in the name of", ensure the justification or purpose is clearly and directly linked to the action being described to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "target in the name of" as a generic justification. Instead, provide specific reasons and avoid vague claims of acting for a broad or undefined purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "target in the name of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun. It indicates the purpose, justification, or declared motive behind a particular action or strategy. As seen in Ludwig, it is used to explain why something is being targeted or pursued.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "target in the name of" is a prepositional phrase used to justify or explain why a particular action is being taken. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI shows the phrase can sometimes be vague, so it's crucial to ensure the reason or purpose is clearly stated. More effective alternatives, depending on the context, might include "for the sake of" or "on behalf of". The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources, indicating a neutral to professional register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aim for the sake of

Replaces "target" with "aim" and "in the name of" with "for the sake of", emphasizing the purpose or benefit.

focus on behalf of

Substitutes "target" with "focus" and "in the name of" with "on behalf of", highlighting representation or advocacy.

act under the banner of

Replaces "target" with "act" and "in the name of" with "under the banner of", conveying a sense of collective action or ideology.

pursue with the justification of

Replaces "target" with "pursue" and "in the name of" with "with the justification of", emphasizing the rationale behind the action.

strive in support of

Changes "target" to "strive" and "in the name of" to "in support of", indicating effort and endorsement.

work towards in advocacy of

Alters "target" to "work towards" and "in the name of" to "in advocacy of", highlighting ongoing effort and promotion.

endeavor for the cause of

Replaces "target" with "endeavor" and "in the name of" with "for the cause of", suggesting dedication to a specific cause.

operate under the guise of

Substitutes "in the name of" with "under the guise of", implying a deceptive or concealed motive.

ostensibly for the purpose of

Replaces "in the name of" with "ostensibly for the purpose of", suggesting a stated but potentially untrue reason.

allegedly in the interest of

Changes "in the name of" to "allegedly in the interest of", indicating doubt or skepticism about the stated motive.

FAQs

How can I use "target in the name of" in a sentence?

Use "target in the name of" to describe actions taken with a declared purpose or cause, such as "The government implemented new policies to target specific demographics "in the name of" economic growth".

What are some alternatives to saying "target in the name of"?

Depending on the context, consider alternatives like "for the sake of", "on behalf of", or "under the banner of" to convey a similar meaning with potentially greater clarity.

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "target in the name of"?

While grammatically correct, "target in the name of" can sometimes sound vague or even suspicious. Ensure the reason is genuine and well-defined to prevent misinterpretation.

What's the difference between "target in the name of" and "ostensibly for the purpose of"?

"Target in the name of" usually implies a stated, possibly genuine, reason for an action. "Ostensibly for the purpose of" suggests the stated reason might be a pretext, masking the real motive.