target was surpassed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "target was surpassed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a specific goal or objective has been exceeded or achieved beyond expectations. Example: "The sales team worked hard this quarter, and I'm pleased to report that our target was surpassed by 20%."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The MDG target was surpassed, and I believe we can have universal access within the next 15 years.

Huffington Post

16 The target was surpassed due to influxes into Protection of Civilians sites, especially the site in Bentiu.

Unicef

19 The target was surpassed due to influxes of children into Protection of Civilians and IDP sites from the southern parts of Unity and Upper Nile states due to escalated fighting and subsequent scale-up of our response.

Unicef

23 The target was surpassed due to the fact that more funds were received than requested for the cholera response in Humanitarian Action for children 2015 (120 per cent funded), which enabled the expansion of support based on the needs informed by the surveillance system.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

7 Immunization targets were surpassed largely due to Zamboanga City immediately adopting the Reaching Every Purok (Zone) strategy to increase coverage.

Unicef

The state initially mandated a 20% curtailment target for Glendale, which was surpassed as the community achieved an average 22% reduction between June 2015 and this past January.

Los Angeles Times

The SAG target (80% of need or 400 HAART initiations per month of 500 patients in need) was surpassed 20 months into the regional initiative (April 2008).

BMJ Quality and Safety

It was surpassed by Apple and Samsung.

The New York Times

That goal was surpassed.

The New York Times

When the threshold was surpassed, helical scanning was automatically initiated.

Insights into Imaging

Once the 20% threshold was surpassed, the bout was stopped.

BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about goals, targets, or expectations that have not only been met, but significantly outperformed, consider using "target was surpassed".

Common error

Avoid using "surpassed" in contexts where a simple achievement is meant. "Surpassed" implies exceeding a defined expectation or goal, not just any action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "target was surpassed" functions as a concise way to express that a specific goal or objective has not only been achieved but exceeded. It is often used to convey a sense of accomplishment and overperformance. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Formal & Business

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "target was surpassed" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that a specific goal or objective has been exceeded, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not extremely common, it appears across various contexts, including formal business, news media, and scientific publications, suggesting its versatility and professional tone. When writing, ensure that "surpassed" is used accurately to reflect exceeding a defined expectation rather than general achievement. Related phrases like "goal was exceeded" and "objective was achieved beyond expectations" can offer alternative ways to express the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

goal was exceeded

Replaces "target" with "goal", maintaining the core meaning of outperforming an expected outcome.

the aim was exceeded

This alternative swaps the noun "target" for the noun "aim".

benchmark was surpassed

Implies exceeding a standard or point of reference that serves as a basis for comparison.

objective was achieved beyond expectations

Emphasizes the accomplishment of the objective and highlights the unexpected level of success.

milestone was reached ahead of schedule

Shifts the focus to timing, indicating that a planned milestone was completed sooner than anticipated.

limit was exceeded

Highlights that the limit was reached and over

the objective was outstripped

The alternative replaces "surpassed" with "outstripped", indicating the target was exceeded by a large amount

quota was fulfilled and exceeded

Specifically relates to meeting and going beyond a pre-set quota, typically in sales or production.

the goal was transcended

The alternative replaces "surpassed" with "transcended", indicating the goal was greatly exceeded.

the anticipation was exceeded

The alternative replaces "target" with "anticipation" and can be used if the anticipation has been exceeded

FAQs

What does "target was surpassed" mean?

The phrase "target was surpassed" means that a specific goal or objective was not only achieved but also exceeded. It indicates performance beyond the initially set expectations.

What can I say instead of "target was surpassed"?

You can use alternatives like "goal was exceeded", "objective was achieved beyond expectations", or "benchmark was surpassed" depending on the specific context.

Is "target was surpassed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "target was surpassed" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-complement structure in English.

How to use "target was surpassed" in a sentence?

You can use "target was surpassed" to indicate that a goal has been exceeded. For example: "The sales team worked hard this quarter, and I'm pleased to report that our "target was surpassed" by 20%."