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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
targets was due
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "targets was due" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a grammatical error, likely due to subject-verb agreement, as "targets" is plural and should be paired with "were" instead of "was." Example: "The targets were due for completion last week."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
We further examined whether our failure to detect common targets was due to the incorrect identification of orthologous HCEs.
Science
To demonstrate that the response of the 14 new targets was due to base pairing with Qrr4, we engineered mutations disrupting the putative pairing regions in Qrr4.
Science
This larger number for hard targets was due in part to the fact that more alignment tools were used, and so we generated more query-template alignments, and hence more models ended up being generated.
Science
This treatment abrogated the enhanced adhesion to E-cadherin expressing targets, confirming that the increased adhesion to E-cadherin expressing targets was due to the expression of functional CD103.
Science
To verify that the expression of these TGF-β targets was due to aberrant TGF-β signaling in response to SFRP1 down-regulation, cells were treated with a TGF-β receptor (TGF-βR1) specific inhibitor (LY364957) and gene expression was again analyzed by way of real-time PCR.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
The 17 goals, including 169 targets, are due to be ratified on Friday by the 193 United Nation member states, in order to frame their agendas and policies until 2030.
News & Media
The need for constantly developing new drugs and drug targets is due to the unique property of microorganisms to adapt to harsh conditions and, implicitly, to new drugs.
Science
Two-way communication is essential because there is no way of determining whether a teacher's or a principal's failure to reach growth targets were due to the educator's weakness or due to dysfunctional policies imposed by their bosses.
News & Media
It is unlikely that our failure to detect putative Mediator targets is due to non-optimal positioning of primer pairs, because the average size of sonicated chromatin ensures that Mediator binding profiles have relatively broad peaks, as evident at GAL1,10 [16], [16] and CCW12 [11].
Science
Such a wide diversity in their molecular targets is due to changes in their primary sequences, while keeping the basic molecular scaffold intact.
Science
We propose that the failure of Waldminghaus and Skarstad to identify many of these σ targets is due predominantly to the lower data quality in their study.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Always ensure subject-verb agreement. Since "targets" is plural, use "were" instead of "was". For example, use "Targets were due" to maintain grammatical correctness.
Common error
Avoid using singular verbs with plural subjects. Double-check that plural nouns like "targets" are paired with plural verbs like "were" to ensure grammatical accuracy.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase appears to function as a statement indicating a scheduled or expected completion date for multiple objectives. However, it exhibits grammatical errors due to incorrect subject-verb agreement, as identified by Ludwig.
Frequent in
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "targets was due" is grammatically incorrect due to subject-verb disagreement. The plural noun "targets" requires the plural verb "were"; therefore, the correct phrasing is "targets were due". While various sources use the incorrect phrase, as shown by Ludwig, it's crucial to maintain grammatical accuracy in writing. Alternatives such as "targets were expected", "targets had a deadline", or "targets were scheduled" can be used to express similar meanings with correct grammar. When writing, always double-check subject-verb agreement to avoid such errors. Because of the grammatical errors and the suggestion made by Ludwig, this form should be avoided.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
Targets were expected
Replaces "was" with "were" to correct the subject-verb agreement, focusing on expectation rather than a set deadline.
Targets were scheduled
Emphasizes that targets had a specific time allocated for their completion, fixing subject-verb agreement.
Targets were due for completion
Focuses on the completion aspect of the targets, emphasizing that they had a scheduled completion date, correcting subject-verb agreement.
Targets had a deadline
Highlights the existence of a deadline for the targets, replacing the passive voice with an active construction.
Targets should have been completed
Focuses on the expectation that targets should have already been finished, implying a past deadline.
Targets needed to be achieved
Highlights the necessity of accomplishing the targets, shifting from a deadline to a requirement.
Targets were meant to be finished
Expresses the intention or plan to complete the targets, correcting subject-verb agreement.
Targets were projected for completion
Focuses on the projected or estimated completion date for the targets, correcting subject-verb agreement.
Completion of targets was required
Shifts the emphasis to the completion itself being a requirement, rather than the targets having a deadline.
Targets were set to be finalized
Highlights the setting or scheduling of the targets for finalization, emphasizing the planned aspect and correcting subject-verb agreement.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say that targets had a deadline?
The correct phrasing is "Targets "were due"", as "targets" is plural and requires the plural verb "were."
What can I say instead of "targets was due"?
Use phrases such as "targets "were expected"", "targets "were scheduled"", or "targets "had a deadline"" to convey the intended meaning correctly.
Which is correct, "targets was due" or "targets were due"?
"Targets "were due"" is the grammatically correct option. The plural subject "targets" requires the plural verb form "were."
How can I avoid making mistakes with subject-verb agreement when discussing multiple targets?
Always ensure that plural subjects (like "targets") are paired with plural verb forms (like "were"). Double-checking your sentence structure can prevent these common errors.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested