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Prepositions after verbs

Target with different prepositions

Target is often used directly with an object, but some prepositions appear in specific contexts.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with target?

Target is commonly transitive: target customers, target a group. Target at appears in passive structures such as be targeted at children. Target to is used in technical or business contexts for directing something to a group. Target by, target for, and target in are not standard fixed combinations after the verb.

The campaign targets young voters.
The programme is targeted at teenagers.
Ads can be targeted to specific users.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
target + object

Directing attention or action

Target commonly takes a direct object without a preposition.

The company targeted luxury buyers.
2
be targeted at + group

Showing intended audience

Targeted at is common in passive structures.

The course is targeted at beginners.
3
target to + audience

Directing content in technical contexts

Target to appears especially in advertising and technology.

The notifications were targeted to premium users.
4
target for + noun

Showing purpose with target as a noun

For commonly follows the noun target, not the verb.

The city became a target for hackers.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
target at
The film is targeted at young adults.
intended for a particular audience
target to
The offer was targeted to frequent travellers.
directed to a specific group, especially in business or technology
target for
Target for is usually used after the noun target, not directly after the verb.
not a standard verb-preposition pattern
target by
The company was targeted by scammers.
by introduces the agent in a passive sentence
target in
The police targeted gangs in the area.
in introduces place, not a fixed combination

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Adding unnecessary prepositions

Target often works directly with an object.

✕ The brand targets at students. ✓ The brand targets students.

Using target for as a verb pattern

For usually belongs with the noun target.

✕ They targeted for young professionals. ✓ They targeted young professionals.

Confusing passive and active forms

Targeted at is mainly used in passive structures.

✓ The campaign is targeted at first-time buyers.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The app targets ___ remote workers.
2. The workshops are targeted ___ new managers.
3. The ads were targeted ___ users in Europe.

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Frequently asked questions

Is target at always wrong?

No. It is standard in passive forms such as targeted at children.

Can I say target to customers?

Yes, especially in marketing or technical contexts, though target customers is more common.

What is the most common structure?

The most typical structure is target plus a direct object, such as target voters or target users.

tackle by, in, for, with or on? tack-on-onto-to-across, as "tag with" or "tag in"? tailor to, for, from, toward or towards? "taint by" or "taint with"? "take into", "take in" or "take to"? "talk about" or "talk to"? tally with, in, for, up or at? "tap into" or "tap on"? tarnish by, in, with, after or as? "taste like", "taste of" or "taste in"? "tax at" or "tax on"?

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