This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.

to target

English translation: targeted AT

18:03 Jun 28, 2006
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / study trial
English term or phrase: to target
I'm proofereading a study trial written in English by an Italian author.

Which is the correct preposition after the verb "to target"?

to target AT ... or to target TO ??


I'm thinking it should be "targeted at" but I'd like your opinion..... the heat has melted my brain-cells ;-)

This is the sentence exactly as it has been written by the author:

Future educational prevention programs may be targeted to those groups that are less sensitive to health behavioural changes rather than the whole population.

Many thanks, D.
Daniela Zambrini
Italy
Local time: 06:28
Selected answer:targeted AT
Explanation:
It's a matter of personal preference, and mine is "targeted AT". I would use "targeted TO" in the sense of "customised", "designed for", "honed" ("this brochure is targeted to users..." etc.), but it's all about personal preference.

Here I'd use "at".


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2006-06-28 18:30:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hmmm. You really could use either, but AT has the edge, IMO!
Selected response from:

awilliams
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:28
Grading comment
Many thanks to ALL of you for your contributions and explanations. Have a nice week-end! :-)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +7[none]
Robert Forstag
4 +4targeted AT
awilliams
4 +1towards
Alexander Demyanov


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
targeted AT


Explanation:
It's a matter of personal preference, and mine is "targeted AT". I would use "targeted TO" in the sense of "customised", "designed for", "honed" ("this brochure is targeted to users..." etc.), but it's all about personal preference.

Here I'd use "at".


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 27 mins (2006-06-28 18:30:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hmmm. You really could use either, but AT has the edge, IMO!

awilliams
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:28
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Many thanks to ALL of you for your contributions and explanations. Have a nice week-end! :-)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty
18 mins
  -> thanks, Jack
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
22 mins
  -> thanks, Marju
agree  Refugio
9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ruth
agree  writeaway
13 hrs
  -> thanks, writeaway
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
[none]


Explanation:
The verb "to target" takes a direct object (e.g., "This government program targets poverty and unemployment.")

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-06-28 19:28:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Daniela:

Apparently, the form "target+[direct object] is also used in the UK. Here are some references:

www.hrwallingford.co.uk/projects/DFID-KAR/projects/files/R6...
basingstoke.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/.../0/action_plan200405.doc - 466k
www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,5142734-110889,00.html - 7k

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 00:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  awilliams: how does that help in the sentence given?//Ah, I see - "may target those groups...", right?
12 mins
  -> Yes: "may target those groups".
neutral  Marion Lurf: If it was active, yes (...may target those groups...), but since it's passive voice, I would say "targeted at" (I'm not a native speaker though).//I see your point - your answer implied switching from passive to active voice.
16 mins
  -> Once again, in US English at least, "may target those groups" would be the way it would typically be expressed. "At" would be possible here, but certainly not preferable.
agree  Trudy Peters: Fully agree - may target those groups
36 mins
  -> Thank you, Trudy.
agree  Alexander Demyanov: 100% if you change the phrase along the lines of "...programs may target..."
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Alexander.
agree  Asghar Bhatti
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Asghar.
agree  Tahir
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, Tahir.
agree  Roddy Stegemann: "... may target those ..." This phrasing avoids the need to repeat the carelessly omitted preposition after "rather than".
10 hrs
  -> Thanks, Hamo.
agree  Mwananchi
18 hrs
  -> Thank you, Mwananchi.
agree  Lubain Masum: Please consult Collins dictionary. There are specific examples on this very particular context.
31 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
towards


Explanation:
I think "targeted towards" is commonly used in similar contexts

Alexander Demyanov
Local time: 00:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Refugio: or toward, for the US
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Ruth.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search