were aiming to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were aiming to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express intentions or goals in the past. Example: They were aiming to complete the project by the deadline. Alternative expressions include "were intending to" and "were planning to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We were aiming to create a Europe without waste and stop land filling.

The Guardian

"We were aiming to have a Top 10 game: that was the ambition," he said.

The Guardian - Tech

They weren't expecting to defend themselves; they were aiming to build broader public acceptance of guns.

The New York Times

"We were aiming to create both diversity and cohesion," Ms. Reckling said.

The New York Times

The Senate and the Assembly were aiming to release their budget plans as early as Friday.

The New York Times

Following the hearing a Bolton spokesman indicated they were aiming to find a buyer or raise money from asset sales.

The Guardian - Sport

Llodra and Zimonjic, both former champions at The Championships, were aiming to reach their first major final together.

The Guardian - Sport

Cazenove Capital's spokeswoman said the two sides were aiming to complete the merger by the end of June.

The Guardian - Business

He said at a joint news conference that the parties were aiming to resolve the Cyprus issue by May 1.

The New York Times

They knew exactly what kind of books they were aiming to publish: nonfiction for a broad audience.

The Guardian - Books

Trump is attracting the very blue-collar Americans whom the reformocons were aiming to bind to the Republican Party.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were aiming to", ensure the context clearly indicates the intended goal or objective. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "were aiming to" when the action was not just an intention but was actively executed. Instead of saying "they were aiming to complete the project, and they did", use "they completed the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were aiming to" functions as a purpose clause connector, linking an action to its intended goal. As supported by Ludwig, it expresses a past intention or objective. This is evident in examples like "They "were aiming to" resolve the Cyprus issue by May 1".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were aiming to" is a versatile and commonly used phrase that describes a past intention or goal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, primarily in News & Media. While alternatives like "intended to" or "planned to" exist, "were aiming to" provides a clear and effective way to express past objectives. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the intended goal to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to

Replaces "aiming" with a direct synonym, simplifying the phrase while retaining its meaning.

planned to

Focuses on the planning aspect of the intention, rather than the aiming itself.

sought to

A more formal alternative, suggesting a determined effort to achieve something.

had the goal of

Emphasizes the objective or target that was being pursued.

were working towards

Highlights the ongoing effort and progress towards a specific aim.

set out to

Focuses on the initiation of an action with a specific objective in mind.

had in mind to

Indicates a pre-existing idea or intention that was being considered.

strove to

Implies a considerable effort and determination to achieve a particular outcome.

were endeavoring to

A more formal and elaborate way of expressing an attempt to achieve something.

pursued the objective of

Emphasizes the active pursuit of a specific objective or aim.

FAQs

How can I use "were aiming to" in a sentence?

Use "were aiming to" to describe a past intention or goal. For example, "The team "were aiming to" finish the project by Friday" indicates the team's goal, though not necessarily its achievement.

What are some alternatives to "were aiming to"?

Depending on the nuance you want to convey, alternatives include "intended to", "planned to", or "sought to". Each carries a slightly different connotation of purpose and effort.

Is it correct to say "was aiming to" instead of "were aiming to"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "was aiming to" with singular subjects (e.g., "He was aiming to win"), and "were aiming to" with plural subjects (e.g., "They "were aiming to" collaborate").

How does "were aiming to" differ from "are aiming to"?

"Were aiming to" refers to a past intention, while "are aiming to" describes a current intention. The tense change reflects whether the intention is in the past or present.