was aimed at

USAGE SUMMARY

"was aimed at" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to talk about the intended target for something, such as: The commercial was aimed at people in the 18-24 age group.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That intervention was aimed at regime change.

The New York Times

That was aimed at critical Europeans.

The Economist

It was aimed at passing police vehicles.

Independent

The legislation was aimed at undermining Democrats.

The New York Times

America said this was aimed at Iran.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was aimed at increasing police powers.

The Guardian

Only one pass was aimed at him.

The New York Times - Sports

It was aimed at dealing with terrorism.

The Guardian

Proponents said it was aimed at unity.

The New York Times

It was aimed at the office desktop.

The New York Times - Tech

And one measure was aimed at nobody.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was aimed at" to clearly indicate the intended target or purpose of an action, policy, or product. This phrasing is particularly effective in formal and informational writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice, as it can make your writing sound vague or indirect. If possible, rephrase the sentence to use an active voice construction for greater clarity. For example, instead of "The project was aimed at improving efficiency", consider "The project aimed to improve efficiency".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was aimed at" functions as a passive construction, indicating the target or intended recipient of an action, effort, or object. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was aimed at" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to denote the target or purpose of an action or initiative. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's frequently used in various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. Its function is to clarify the intended recipient or objective, maintaining a neutral to professional register. For enhanced clarity, consider alternatives like "targeted at" or "intended for", while avoiding overuse of the passive voice. This phrase is common in authoritative sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian and The Washington Post, which further validates its correct and widespread usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

targeted at

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct, active construction.

intended for

Focuses on the intention behind the action, suggesting a specific audience or purpose.

designed for

Highlights the design aspect, indicating that something was specifically created for a particular purpose.

geared toward

Suggests an adaptation or modification to suit a particular target or goal.

directed at

Emphasizes the direction or focus of the action, implying a specific target.

meant for

Highlights the intended use or recipient of something.

suited to

Indicates that something is appropriate or well-matched for a specific purpose or audience.

focused on

Highlights the main subject or area of attention.

developed for

Emphasizes the creation or development process with a specific purpose in mind.

addressing

Implies tackling or dealing with a specific issue or audience.

FAQs

How can I use "was aimed at" in a sentence?

The phrase "was aimed at" indicates the intended target or purpose of something. For example, "The new policy was aimed at reducing pollution" shows the policy's goal.

What are some alternatives to "was aimed at"?

Alternatives include "targeted at", "intended for", or "designed for" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was aimed at"?

While "was aimed at" is in the passive voice, using the active voice can sometimes create a more direct and impactful sentence. For example, instead of "The criticism was aimed at the CEO", you could say "The criticism targeted the CEO".

What's the difference between "was aimed at" and "was intended to"?

"Was aimed at" focuses on the target, while "was intended to" focuses on the purpose. For instance, "The campaign was aimed at young voters" suggests the target demographic, while "The campaign was intended to increase awareness" highlights the objective.