targeting at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "targeting at" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "targeting" or "targeting towards" without the preposition "at." Example: "The marketing campaign is targeting young adults."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

However, organic growth in 2016 is likely to remain relatively muted, with management targeting at least 4% (2015: 4.3%).

The Guardian - Business

Subsequently, we learned about the SA-6, which came from a site we were targeting at the same time".

The New York Times

It also needs to ensure that those who are freed will not continue to suffer targeting at the hands of security forces and judicial authorities".

The Guardian

VWOs targeting at low-income families were offered capital grants.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

This confirms the function of reelin in specific targeting at vLGN and IGL but not dLGN.

Protein & Cell

Those headphones are made of leather and jewelry, mainly targeting at snobs.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Facebook itself was accused of targeting at-risk youth in Australia based on their emotional state.

TechCrunch

Facebook recently came under fire for allegedly targeting at-risk youth in Australia.

TechCrunch

More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of screening and intervention strategies targeting at-risk older ED patients.

Annals of Emergency Medicine

Educational initiatives targeting at-risk populations have long been recognized as a mainstay of ongoing rabies control efforts.

Acta Tropica

For example, Iowa added its Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program to expand eligibility to all children while maintaining its Shared Visions program targeting at-risk students.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an action aimed at achieving a specific outcome, use the correct form "targeting" or "targeting towards" without the redundant "at".

Common error

Do not use "targeting at". The correct and more concise form is simply "targeting". For instance, instead of saying, "The campaign is targeting at young adults", say "The campaign is targeting young adults".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "targeting at" functions as a present participle phrase used to describe an action directed towards a specific goal or object. However, its usage is often considered grammatically incorrect as highlighted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

56%

News & Media

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "targeting at" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. According to Ludwig, the correct form is simply "targeting" or "targeting towards". The phrase aims to convey a focus or intention but its usage should be corrected to align with proper grammar. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related contexts, remember to avoid this construction in formal writing to maintain clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aiming at

Replaces "targeting" with "aiming", maintaining the preposition "at" but using a different verb with similar meaning.

focused on

Uses "focused" instead of "targeting", requiring the preposition "on" which conveys a similar meaning of concentrating efforts.

directed towards

Substitutes "targeting" with "directed", changing the preposition to "towards" to indicate a sense of direction.

geared towards

Replaces "targeting" with "geared", using "towards" to indicate being designed or organized for a specific purpose.

designed for

Indicates the intended purpose, similar to targeting, but emphasizing the design aspect.

intended for

Highlights the intended recipient or purpose, differing slightly in focus from actively targeting.

striving for

Focuses on the effort being made to achieve something, rather than the direct act of targeting.

working towards

Emphasizes the ongoing process and effort in moving toward a goal, differing from a specific targeting action.

with the goal of

Clearly states the objective or aim, replacing the directness of "targeting" with a more descriptive phrase.

in pursuit of

Highlights the active chase or attempt to reach a goal, changing the focus from targeting to the act of pursuing.

FAQs

How can I use "targeting" correctly in a sentence?

Use "targeting" followed directly by the object of the targeting, like "The advertisement is targeting millennials." Alternatively, use "targeting towards" to specify a direction: "The research is targeting towards finding a cure".

Is it grammatically correct to say "targeting at"?

According to standard English grammar, "targeting at" is considered incorrect. The correct form is simply "targeting" or "targeting towards".

What are some alternatives to "targeting at"?

Instead of "targeting at", you can use phrases like "aiming at", "focused on", or "directed towards". However, the best option is usually just "targeting".

What's the difference between "targeting" and "aiming at"?

"Targeting" directly indicates the object of the action, while "aiming at" implies a goal or objective. While both can be similar, "targeting" is more direct. For example, "The missile is targeting the enemy base" versus "The project is aiming at improving efficiency".