under target

USAGE SUMMARY

"under target" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or result that falls short of the expected task or goal. For example: "The company's sales figures this quarter were under target, causing concern among investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

You have to look at the small print of the United Nations Millennium Development Goall 5, "Improve Maternal Health," under Target 2, to find this language: "An unmet need for family planning undermines achievement of several other goals".

The New York Times

(paidContent) iPhone sales under target US mobile network AT&T has said that only 146,000 iPhones were registered on its network in the two days after the launch, prompting a 7.5% slide in Apple's stock - worth $10bn - last week.

The Guardian

"It would be surprising if revenues did not start to come in under target," said Tony Travers, director of the Greater London group at the London School of Economics.

The Guardian

Officials say there is an ongoing general threat to France — which is seen by its head of internal intelligence as the country most under target from jihadi terrorism — but there are no known specific plans to target the Euro 2016 event itself.

The Guardian - Sport

A goal programming model is developed under target and structural constraints, and all possible weight combinations are examined.

Renewable Energy

"Meanwhile, the further education loans system has been completely abandoned for apprenticeships and is running woefully under target for other adults".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Under-target levels of anticoagulation were corrected with either heparin bolus plus increase in infusion or with increase in infusion only; similarly, over-target levels of anticoagulation were corrected with either heparin infusion stop for 30 or 60 min and restart with a reduced dose or with decrease in infusion only.

Annals of Intensive Care

Women should make up 25% of all boardroom seats by 2015 under targets set two years ago by the government taskforce led by Lord Mervyn Davies.

The Guardian

REPs are projected forward in time to estimate AFs for a series of forecast target years based on past and projected exposure trends and under targeted reduction scenarios.

British Journal of Cancer

Given that HIV programs in India are implemented at the state level through State AIDS Control Societies, state-level truckers were routinely covered under Targeted Interventions funded by the National AIDS Control Organization.

BMC Public Health

Though the marketing plans for the remaining seven R-rated films did not expressly identify an under-17 target audience, they led the commission to conclude that children under 17 were targeted nonetheless.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "under target", clarify the specific target or goal that was not met. Providing context enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "under target" without specifying what the target is. For instance, instead of saying "Sales were under target", specify "Sales were under the Q3 target by 15%".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under target" primarily functions as an adjectival modifier or a predicate adjective. It describes a state of not meeting a pre-defined objective or goal. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "under target" is a versatile expression used to indicate that something has not reached its intended or expected level. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a valid and commonly used phrase in English. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it appears most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts. When employing "under target", ensure you specify the relevant target to maintain clarity and avoid vagueness. Consider alternatives like "below expectations" or "short of the goal" depending on the specific context. It is suitable for neutral and formal communication, and not in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

below the mark

Indicates a failure to meet a standard or expectation, focusing on a specific threshold.

short of the goal

Emphasizes the failure to achieve the intended outcome or purpose.

not up to par

Implies that something does not meet the required level of quality or performance.

falling behind schedule

Highlights the aspect of not meeting the planned timeline or deadlines.

deficient in

Focuses on the lack or inadequacy of something needed to reach the target.

lacking in

Indicates an absence or insufficiency of a specific quality or quantity.

less than expected

Indicates that the actual outcome did not meet anticipations.

missing the objective

Focuses on the failure to achieve the specific aim or purpose.

not achieving the desired outcome

Emphasizes the failure to attain the anticipated or intended result.

underperforming

Suggests a failure to meet established performance standards or expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "under target" in a sentence?

You can use "under target" to indicate that something has not reached its desired or expected level. For example, "The project's progress is currently "behind schedule" and therefore running "under target"".

What does it mean when something is described as "under target"?

When something is "under target", it means it has not achieved the planned or expected level or goal. This can apply to various areas such as sales, production, or project milestones.

What are some alternatives to saying "under target"?

Some alternatives to "under target" include "below expectations", "short of the goal", or "underperforming", depending on the specific context.

Is "under target" a formal or informal expression?

"Under target" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, the specific situation and audience may influence the choice of wording, with more formal settings possibly favoring alternatives like "below expectations".