target of

USAGE SUMMARY

"target of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when you are discussing a specific goal or aim of an individual or group. For example, "The team had a clear target of increasing efficiency by 15% by the end of the quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The target of his ire?

The New York Times

"That's my target, of course".

The New York Times - Food

"That wasn't a target of opportunity.

The New York Times

"This was a target of opportunity".

The New York Times

A target of 146 was interesting.

The Guardian - Sport

Daly was never a target of investigators.

The New York Times - Sports

He became the target of blackmailers.

The Guardian - Arts

And that was a target of opportunity.

The New York Times

A target of choice for manipulation.

The Guardian - Tech

"A target of opportunity has passed".

The New York Times

"We've exceeded our target of four.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "target of" to clearly indicate what is being aimed at or affected by a particular action or strategy. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "target of" when referring to inanimate subjects that cannot logically be targeted. For example, instead of "The building was the target of the storm", consider "The building was affected by the storm".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "target of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the object or recipient of an action, strategy, or emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "target of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to denote the object or recipient of an action, strategy, or emotion. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and widespread occurrence. It is commonly found in news and media, scientific publications, and formal business documents. When using this phrase, ensure it logically connects to the subject and object in your sentence, and consider alternative phrasings like "subject of" or "aim of" for nuanced meaning. Avoid using "target of" with inanimate subjects that cannot logically be targeted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subject of

Indicates something or someone is being subjected to an action or process.

aim of

Specifies the goal or intended outcome of an activity or plan.

object of

Highlights the recipient of an action or emotion, emphasizing the directed nature of the activity.

focus of

Indicates where attention or effort is primarily directed.

recipient of

Identifies who or what receives something, whether tangible or intangible.

victim of

Emphasizes the negative impact of an action or event on someone or something.

beneficiary of

Indicates who gains an advantage or benefit from something.

locus of

Denotes the place where something is situated or occurs.

purpose of

Defines the reason for which something exists or is done.

intent of

Describes the planned outcome or objective behind an action.

FAQs

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

The phrase "target of" is used to indicate what or whom an action, strategy, or emotion is directed towards. For example, "The campaign was the "target of" criticism" or "She became the "target of" online harassment".

What are some alternatives to "target of"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "subject of", "aim of", "object of", or "focus of" as alternatives to "target of".

Is it correct to say 'targeted by' instead of 'target of'?

While both phrases are related, they have different grammatical structures. "Targeted by" is a passive construction indicating that something is being targeted. "Target of" indicates what is being aimed at, such as "The project was the "target of" the new initiative".

How does 'target of' differ from 'goal of'?

"Target of" usually implies something is being aimed at, often in a negative or neutral context (e.g., attack or investigation). "Goal of" refers to the desired outcome or objective (e.g., "The "goal of" the campaign is to raise awareness").