to aim to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to aim to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express an intention or goal that someone is trying to achieve. Example: "Our organization aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50% over the next decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"That's what we have to aim to do.

The Guardian - Sport

You always need to aim to get better".

The Guardian - Sport

"The manager, Carlo [Ancelotti], always wanted us to aim to score goals.

The Guardian - Sport

You want to aim to be normal, because what you do is not normal".

The New York Times - Arts

Official advice is to aim to build up to 30 minutes, five times a week.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There is no choice – we simply have to aim to clean up ocean plastic for good".

The Guardian

Aware of Brodeur's proficiency with the glove, Doughty made sure to aim to his stick side.

The New York Times - Sports

In Mr. Ashe's compromise text, rich countries are asked to "aim to reduce, or as appropriate, eliminate" those tariffs.

The New York Times

It is also good to aim to reduce the number of job and location changes in a typical Army career.

The New York Times

The green paper says it is neither affordable nor desirable to aim to replace the contribution of unpaid carers.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The council remains committed to aiming to avoid compulsory redundancies".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to aim to" when you want to express a clear objective or intention, ensuring that the context provides a specific goal you are striving to achieve. For example, "The company needs to aim to increase its market share" is more effective when a strategic plan for market penetration is also presented.

Common error

Avoid using "to aim to" with overly broad or undefined goals. Instead of saying "We aim to improve," specify concrete improvements such as "We aim to reduce production costs by 15%" to provide clarity and measurable targets.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to aim to" functions as an infinitive of purpose, indicating the intention or goal behind an action. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in expressing objectives across diverse contexts. For instance, "We need to aim to get rid of food banks altogether" illustrates its function in advocating for societal change.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to aim to" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for stating intentions and objectives. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it functions as an infinitive of purpose, communicating goals clearly across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for general communication, being mindful of replacing it with more specific alternative phrases such as "intend to" or "strive to" could provide a more nuanced message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intend to

Emphasizes the intention or plan to do something, similar to "to aim to".

strive to

Highlights the effort and determination in achieving a goal, similar to "to aim to".

aspire to

Suggests a higher level of ambition or desire than "to aim to".

seek to

Implies a more deliberate and focused effort to achieve something, similar to "to aim to".

endeavor to

Indicates a serious and determined effort to accomplish something, similar to "to aim to".

plan to

Focuses on the planned action, similar to "to aim to" but less formal.

try to

Suggests an attempt to do something, similar to "to aim to" but with a potentially lower expectation of success.

work towards

Emphasizes the process of making progress toward a goal, similar to "to aim to".

have the intention to

Highlights a firm and pre-determined purpose, similar to "to aim to" but more verbose.

set out to

Suggests a deliberate and purposeful start to achieving a goal, similar to "to aim to".

FAQs

How can I use "to aim to" in a sentence?

Use "to aim to" to express an intention or goal. For example, "The team needs "to aim to" improve its performance next quarter."

What are some alternatives to "to aim to"?

You can use alternatives such as "intend to", "strive to", or "aspire to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "aim to" or "to aim to"?

Both "aim to" and "to aim to" are grammatically correct, but "to aim to" often provides a slightly more formal or emphatic tone. The choice depends on the context and desired style.

How does "to aim to" differ from "trying to"?

"To aim to" suggests a planned objective, while "trying to" indicates an attempt to achieve something that may not be certain. "To aim to" implies more intention and less uncertainty.