在科技论文写作过程中经常会用到这些词，那么，怎么样才能真正恰如其分的应用好这几个单词呢？那就得把这几个单词给去区分清楚，才能达到准备使用的效果。

首先，我们来看下这几个单词的本意。

这些名词均有“目标、目的”之意。

aim ：从本义“靶子”引申而来，侧重比较具体而明确的目标，但常指短期目标。

• She went to London with the aim of finding a job.
  她去伦敦是为了找工作。

goal ：指经过考虑和选择，需经坚持不懈的努力奋斗才能达到的最终目标。

• You need to set yourself some long-term goals.
  你得为自己订一些长期目标。

• Our ultimate goal must be the preservation of the environment.
  我们的最终目的必须是环境保护。

purpose ：普通用词，既指以坚决、审慎的行动去达到的目的，又指心中渴望要实际的目标。

• Our campaign's main purpose is to raise money.
  我们这次活动的主要目的就是募款。

end ：指心目中怀着的某种目的，强调结果而非过程。较正式用词。

• They are prepared to use violence in pursuit of their ends.
  他们准备使用暴力来达到目的。

target ：指射击的靶，军事攻击目标。引申指被攻击、批评或潮笑的目标。

• business goals and targets
  经营目的和指标

• Doors and windows are an easy target for burglars.
  门窗被窃贼作为入室的目标容易得手。

object ：强调个人或需求而决定的目标、目的。

• Her sole object in life is to become a travel writer.
  她人生的唯一目标就是当游记作家。

objective： 与 object 基本同义，但语义更广泛，指具体或很快能达到的目的，也可指军事目标。书面用词。

• Our main objective was the recovery of the child safe and well.
  我们的主要目标是将孩子安然无恙地找回来。

Scope：范围，余地；眼界，视野；力量，能力；导弹射程。

• Oil painting does not come within the scope of a course of this kind.

  油画不在这类课程范围内。

• There is limited scope for further reductions in the workforce.
  

  进一步裁员的余地有限。

第一个回合，我们看下Goal, Purpose, Objective and Scope

Goals: High level statement referring the possible businesses and allied benefits consequent upon the completion of a project.

Purpose：Purpose of an activity, project or procedure represents the reason for the change, induction or migration in a brief way. 

Objective：Objective of an activity, project or procedure represents the output or what you want to accomplish by doing it. Comparatively low level statement and referring to tangible benefits,consequent upon the completion of a project.

Scope：Scope of an activity, project or procedure represents their limitations or defines the boundaries of its application. The method to achieve the goals/objectives.

第二个回合，我们看下 Goal vs. Objective

The words goal and objective are often confused with each other. They both describe things that a person may want to achieve or attain but in relative terms may mean different things. Both are desired outcomes of work done by a person but what sets them apart is the time frame, attributes they're set for and the effect they inflict.

Comparison chart   

第三个回合，我们看下Difference between Objectives, Targets and Goals

This post explains the difference between a mission, primary objective, a secondary objective, a target and a goal in simple, easily remembered terms. 

Trying to understand the difference between these words sounds like a complicated grammatical conundrum, but it isn’t.

Mission – the purpose
Primary Objective – what you hope to achieve to support your mission
Secondary Objective – objectives established to support the Primary Objective
Target – an indicator established to determine how successfully you are achieving an objective.
Goal – an indicator established to determine whether you have achieved your objective.

Remember:
Goals tend to be two state only – achieved or not achieved – a near miss in soccer is still a miss.
Targets are more measurement based.  When you hit a target in archery you achieve different scores depending on your accuracy.

The below shows the hierarchy of mission, objectives, targets and goals

Objectives Targets and Goals heirachy

To simplify let’s look at a silly example.

• Mission
  To be happy

• Primary Objective
  To get married, have children and settle down (to support the mission)

• Secondary Objective:
  To impress a damsel with your archery skills (one way you can achieve your Primary Objective)

• Target:
  To hit the centre of the apple on the head of a knave (a measure of the degree of success)

• Goal:
  To get your arrow in the apple without injuring the knave (a logical indicator of success)

How does that relate to my work situation I hear you ask? Let’s use another example.

Mission: Providing high quality widgets to the beer industry
Primary Objective: To keep the company profitable and healthy
Secondary Objectives (supporting the primary objective) :
1) To improve the company’s financial position.
2.) To achieve quality management system certification so that we are able to tender on larger contracts.
Target (for secondary objective 1.): 8% increase in profits year on year
Goal (for secondary objective 2.): ISO 9001 System Certification achieved before year end (read our easy ISO 9001 Certification in 25 steps article if this is you).
Secondary Objectives, Targets and Goals should all contribute to achieving the primary objective.  You can be close to your target, but close to a goal has the same effect as being a mile away.

Here is over. Thank you for your attention!!!