timely goal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "timely goal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a goal that is set to be achieved within a specific timeframe or deadline. Example: "Setting a timely goal for the project will help ensure that we stay on track and meet our deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It was a timely goal.

The Guardian - Sport

After all, what is a timely goal worth?

The Guardian - Sport

"They're pushing to get that timely goal and we're letting them.

The New York Times

Classic Gerrard and a timely goal, because Victory had been growing in confidence.

The Guardian - Sport

SHARKS 5, STARS 2 Joe Pavelski had a goal and two assists, and Joe Thornton added a timely goal for host San Jose.

The New York Times

The Australian skipper's timely goal came on Tuesday in the 73rd minute, just eight minutes after Katie Bowen had put the Football Ferns ahead with a brilliant strike at the other end.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

All those points, all those timely goals, making it pretty easy to ignore all the times he's getting hemmed into his own zone and watching as other teams score around him; not to put too much stock into plus-minus, but of the 16 goals the Flames allowed through five games (which, hoo boy that's a lot), Monahan has been on the ice for six.

The Guardian - Sport

"Today's game was about timely goals," Dallas Coach Dave Tippett said.

The New York Times - Sports

"In other games, the power play has given them timely goals.

The New York Times - Sports

Or do we measure it by "all those timely goals", as Lambert put it?

The Guardian - Sport

Landon Donovan, whose timely goals propelled the United States soccer team in the World Cup.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "timely goal" to emphasize that the goal's impact is directly related to when it was achieved, not just that it was achieved at all.

Common error

Avoid using "timely goal" when simply referring to an important goal, ensure the timing of the goal is a key factor in its significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "timely goal" functions as a noun phrase where "timely" modifies the noun "goal", specifying that the goal's achievement is particularly relevant or effective due to its timing. Ludwig's examples show it's often used in sports and strategic contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "timely goal" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize that the timing of a goal's achievement is critical to its significance. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, and its usage is considered neutral in register. While alternatives exist, such as "opportune score" or "well-timed score", "timely goal" specifically focuses on the advantageous timing of the objective. When employing this phrase, ensure that the timing aspect is genuinely central to the goal's importance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well-timed score

Substitutes "timely" with "well-timed", highlighting the good timing of the goal.

opportune score

Replaces "timely" with "opportune", emphasizing the favorable timing of the goal.

crucial goal

Highlights the essential nature of the goal in a particular situation.

pivotal goal

Emphasizes the turning-point nature of the goal.

critical score

Emphasizes the importance of the goal at a crucial moment.

decisive score

Indicates that the goal played a key role in determining the outcome.

important score

Replaces "timely" with "important", emphasizing the significance of the score.

essential goal

Highlights the indispensable nature of the goal.

advantageous goal

Emphasizes the benefit gained from the goal's timing.

strategic goal

Suggests that the goal was part of a calculated plan.

FAQs

How can I use "timely goal" in a sentence?

You can use "timely goal" to describe a score or objective achieved at a crucial or opportune moment, such as "The team's "timely goal" in the last minute secured their victory".

What's a good alternative to "timely goal"?

Alternatives to "timely goal" include "well-timed score", "critical score", or "opportune score", each emphasizing the importance of the goal's timing.

Is it always necessary to use "timely goal", or are there situations where a simpler term is better?

While "timely goal" is appropriate when the timing is crucial, simpler terms like "important goal" or "key score" may suffice if the timing isn't the primary focus.

How does the meaning of "timely goal" differ from "important goal"?

"Timely goal" specifically highlights that the goal's impact is significantly influenced by when it was achieved, whereas "important goal" simply denotes a goal of high significance, regardless of timing.