target, end

Question

What is the difference between "end" and "target"? "objective" and "aim"? "end" or "ends"? Thanks a lot.

Inchoateknowledge · Accepted Answer

end, objective, aim (n) and target are largely synonymous.

I do not really see any difference.

CalifJim · Answer

Google them and see the ways they are used in sentences.

objective and goal are commonly used and mostly synonymous. You reach a goal, or work toward a goal, but not usually an objective. You can have or achieve either an objective or a goal.

What is the [goal / ?objective] you want to reach?
Sally is working toward the [goal / ?objective] of having her house paid off by next June.
What is your [objective / goal]?
George failed to achieve his [objective / goal] of losing 10 pounds before Christmas.

I find that aim is less used than objective or goal.

end or ends in the same general sense are more like the final state of affairs that some process brings about.
Ends are often contrasted with means.

Do the ends justify the means? (Does the final result justify the manner used to bring that result about?)

target is quite different in my opinion. It suggests a particular type of goal, a quantifiable goal used in business.

Our sales target this month is two million dollars.
ABC Company celebrated the fact that they reached their target of outsourcing 850,000 employees to countries outside the U.S.

CJ

target, end

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