Aims at vs. Aims to – Which is Correct?
“Aims at” and “aims to” are both correct, but they take different complements. Use “aims at” before a noun or gerund to identify a target, and “aims to” before a base-form verb to describe an intended action. Choosing the right construction depends on the grammar that follows, not the meaning.
Because precise wording matters in formal writing, review Achieve vs. Acheive before publishing your examples.
Aims at or Aims to – Which is Correct?
“Aims at” and “aims to” are both correct expressions. The difference is grammatical: aims at is followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund ending in -ing, while aims to is followed by the base form of a verb.
Use aims at when you are identifying a target, result, audience, or object. Use aims to when you are describing an action someone or something intends to perform.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the noun-or-action test. If the word after the expression names a thing, group, result, or activity, choose aims at. If the next word is a base-form action verb, choose aims to.
For example, “The campaign aims at young voters” identifies a target, so aims at is correct. “The campaign aims to increase turnout” describes an action, so aims to is correct.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| aims at | Verb phrase | Targets or is directed toward a person, thing, result, or activity | The advertisement aims at teenagers. |
| aims to | Verb phrase | Intends or plans to perform an action | The company aims to reduce waste. |
How to Use Aims At
Aims at means “targets,” “is directed toward,” or “seeks to affect.” The word following it is usually a noun phrase, such as customers, the problem, or greater accuracy. It can also be followed by a gerund, such as improving or reducing.
This construction is common in formal, academic, business, advertising, and analytical writing. It emphasizes the target or intended outcome rather than the action itself.
Example 1: The new policy aims at greater transparency in government spending.
Example 2: The advertising campaign aims at first-time home buyers.
Example 3: The training program aims at improving workplace safety.
What Are the Different Forms of Aims At?
Aims at is the third-person singular present-tense form of the verb aim followed by the preposition at. Other forms include aim at with I, you, we, and they; aimed at for the past tense; and aiming at for the continuous form.
Examples include “They aim at the same audience,” “The proposal aimed at cost reduction,” and “The project is aiming at long-term improvement.” The phrase remains aim at when followed by a gerund: “They aim at reducing delays.”
Etymology of the Word Aims At
Aim entered English through Middle French, from a word associated with estimating, judging, or intending. Its meaning gradually developed to include directing something toward a target or purpose. The preposition at reinforces the idea of direction toward a specific object or goal.
How to Use Aims To
Aims to means “intends to,” “plans to,” or “seeks to.” It must generally be followed by the base form of a verb, such as improve, reduce, create, or solve.
This construction is especially common when discussing goals, plans, policies, research, company objectives, and personal intentions. It focuses on what the subject intends to do.
Example 1: The hospital aims to improve patient care.
Example 2: The research team aims to identify the cause of the problem.
Example 3: The organization aims to provide affordable housing.
What Are the Different Forms of Aims To?
Aims to is the third-person singular present-tense form of aim followed by the infinitive marker to and a base-form verb. Other forms include aim to with I, you, we, and they; aimed to for the past; and aiming to for the continuous form.
For example, “We aim to expand the service,” “She aimed to finish early,” and “They are aiming to lower prices” all use the same pattern. Do not add -s to the verb after to: write “aims to improve,” not “aims to improves.”
Etymology of the Word Aims To
The verb aim developed from French and originally related to estimation, judgment, and intention. In modern English, aim to uses the infinitive construction to connect an intention with a planned or desired action.
Related Concepts
Understanding complements, prepositions, and infinitives makes the difference between aims at and aims to easier to recognize.
- Prepositional complements: A preposition such as at is normally followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund. This is why “aims at success” and “aims at improving quality” are grammatical.
- Infinitives: The structure to + base-form verb expresses an intended action. This is why “aims to succeed” is correct, while “aims to success” is not.
- Gerunds: A gerund is an -ing form that functions as a noun. After at, use “aims at reducing costs,” not “aims at reduce costs.”
- Subject-verb agreement: With a singular subject in the present tense, use aims. With a plural subject or I and you, use aim.
Examples from Media and Literature
The distinction appears frequently in reporting, business writing, public policy, and literary descriptions of goals:
- News reporting: “The government aims to reduce inflation” describes a policy action.
- Advertising: “The campaign aims at younger consumers” identifies the intended audience.
- Business writing: “The company aims to expand its international operations” states an objective.
- Academic writing: “The study aims to examine the effects of sleep deprivation” introduces the research action.
- Literary analysis: “The novel aims at social criticism” identifies the work’s target or purpose.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence: aims at or aims to.
- The program ______ improving access to public transportation.
- The charity ______ provide meals to families in need.
- The advertisement ______ environmentally conscious consumers.
- The project ______ create more affordable housing.
- The criticism ______ the company’s lack of transparency.
Answer Key
- aims at — “Improving” is a gerund, so it follows the preposition at.
- aims to — “Provide” is a base-form verb describing an intended action.
- aims at — “Environmentally conscious consumers” is a noun phrase identifying the target.
- aims to — “Create” is a base-form verb.
- aims at — “The company’s lack of transparency” is a noun phrase and target of the criticism.
Aims At Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Targets | Directs attention or effort toward a particular person, group, or objective |
| Is directed at | Is focused on a specific object, audience, or issue |
| Focuses on | Concentrates attention or effort on something |
| Addresses | Deals with a particular problem, need, or subject |
Aims To Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Intends to | Plans or wishes to perform a particular action |
| Plans to | Has a specific intention or arrangement to do something |
| Seeks to | Attempts or endeavors to achieve a result |
| Strives to | Makes a determined effort to accomplish something |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “aims at” or “aims to” correct?
Both are correct. Use aims at before a noun, pronoun, or gerund, and use aims to before a base-form verb.
Question 2: Is it “aims at improving” or “aims to improve”?
Both forms are grammatical, but they use different structures. “Aims at improving” treats improving as a gerund after the preposition at. “Aims to improve” uses an infinitive and is often the more direct and natural choice when stating an intended action.
Question 3: Can “aims at” be followed by a verb?
It can be followed by an -ing form functioning as a gerund, as in “The plan aims at reducing waste.” Do not follow it directly with a base-form verb: “aims at reduce waste” is incorrect.
Question 4: Can “aims to” be followed by a noun?
No. Use aims to with a base-form verb, as in “The project aims to help residents.” With a noun, use aims at: “The project aims at residents.”
Conclusion
“Aims at” and “aims to” are both correct, but they are followed by different grammatical structures. Choose aims at for a noun, target, or gerund, and choose aims to for a base-form verb expressing an intended action. Pro Tip: Using the correct construction makes professional writing clearer and strengthens your credibility.
