'End', 'Goal', 'Aim', or 'Objective'?

[Mehrgan]

Hi,
Could anyone please tell me if the difference is only a case of collocations, or there're some practical guidelines on their usage?



Ta!

 

[freezeframe]

"End(s)" contains an element of reason for the result pursued. This is used more formally for example in academic work.

"Objective" is narrow and specific, possibly containing specific steps to attaining the end result.
"Goal" is broader and more abstract.

"Aim" contains a suggestion of motion -- a place or a target you want to reach (like aiming a weapon).

 

[Mehrgan]

May I possibly have some examples please?

Thanks in advance.

 

[freezeframe]

May I possibly have some examples please?

Thanks in advance.

End(s):

The rabbits used violence to achieve their ends.
Media manipulates the news for political ends.

A famous saying is "The ends justify the means"

Kant argues that we should treat people as ends in themselves and never as means to an end.

Goal:

My goal in life is to be extremely rich.
The goal of our organization is to raise awareness of the plight of rabbits.

Objective:

My objective in taking this class is to learn how to start my own business.
The objective of our social media campaign is to raise awareness of the plight of rabbits among teenagers. The campaign will be carried out ... blah blah blah


Aim:

I aim to earn $10,000 a year by the time I'm 30.
The writer's aim is to persuade her audience.
Our aim is to raise $40,000 to build a rabbit shelter.


All this being said, in many cases aim, goal, and objective are interchangeable.

In my mind, at least, if you say
"Our goal is to raise awareness" -- I hear something broad and abstract
vs.
"Our objective is to raise awareness" -- I would assume a context of a step-by-step plan of how you're going to do it
vs.
"Our aim is to raise awareness" -- this is more or less like goal but stresses the motion towards the target, target being the raised awareness

Comments and objections are welcome.

 

[Mehrgan]

End(s):

The rabbits used violence to achieve their ends.
Media manipulates the news for political ends.

A famous saying is "The ends justify the means"

Kant argues that we should treat people as ends in themselves and never as means to an end.

Goal:

My goal in life is to be extremely rich.
The goal of our organization is to raise awareness of the plight of rabbits.

Objective:

My objective in taking this class is to learn how to start my own business.
The objective of our social media campaign is to raise awareness of the plight of rabbits among teenagers. The campaign will be carried out ... blah blah blah


Aim:

I aim to earn $10,000 a year by the time I'm 30.
The writer's aim is to persuade her audience.
Our aim is to raise $40,000 to build a rabbit shelter.


All this being said, in many cases aim, goal, and objective are interchangeable.

In my mind, at least, if you say
"Our goal is to raise awareness" -- I hear something broad and abstract
vs.
"Our objective is to raise awareness" -- I would assume a context of a step-by-step plan of how you're going to do it
vs.
"Our aim is to raise awareness" -- this is more or less like goal but stresses the motion towards the target, target being the raised awareness

Comments and objections are welcome.

So many thanks for the time you've put into this. Cheers!