at any direction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at any direction" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would typically be "in any direction." Example: "You can throw the ball in any direction you choose."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The method uses a rotation-free, plate finite element modified to allow plastic "yield lines" to pass through at any direction.

Engineering Structures

Finally, its results are very same to the real condition, because of its flexibility which makes us consider effects and parameters of fracture and matrix at any direction (X, Y, and Z direction).

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Thus, foragers can set course at any direction to forage and to home from any location (Figure 7B).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In practical situations, the target can move at any directions with respect to the radar system.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Finally, the proposed anisotropic constitutive relation can be used to predict the creep behaviors at any directions.

Composite Structures

φ is called directionally differentiable at (bar{x}in X) if the directional derivative of φ at x̄ in any direction exists.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Comets can appear at random from any direction and provide a fabulous and ever-changing display for many months as they move in highly eccentric orbits around the Sun.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The sensor node can move at random in any direction.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

A province or district chief was likely to start tossing artillery shells in any direction at any hour of the day or night at what the Saigon officials casually referred to as "Vietcong hamlets".

The New Yorker

"The dialogue can go in any direction at any time.

The New York Times - Arts

You have to be able to go in any direction at any moment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "in" instead of "at" when indicating direction. For example, use "move in any direction" instead of "move at any direction".

Common error

Avoid using "at" to specify direction. The correct preposition for indicating direction is "in".

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to act as an adverbial modifier, specifying the scope or range of movement or orientation. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at any direction" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct phrasing is "in any direction". Although some examples exist across different types of sources, they do not legitimize its use. It's safer to use the preposition "in" to accurately convey the intended meaning. Remember that, despite the presence of the phrase across different source types (ranging from Science to Encyclopedias), it is an infrequent expression. Always prioritize grammatical correctness and use "in any direction" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in any direction

Uses the correct preposition "in" instead of "at".

in all directions

Highlights a comprehensive scope of directions.

in every direction

Emphasizes comprehensiveness of direction.

towards any direction

Specifies movement heading.

to any direction

Indicates an orientation or alignment.

whichever direction

Implies a choice of direction.

omni-directionally

Emphasizes equal capability in all directions.

any way

Focuses on the method or manner, rather than spatial orientation.

everywhere

Replaces directional specification with ubiquity.

all around

Indicates a surrounding scope, deviating from specific directions.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "at any direction"?

The correct way to express this idea is to use the preposition "in". Therefore, the correct phrase is "in any direction".

Can I use "at" instead of "in" when talking about direction?

No, using "at" to indicate direction is grammatically incorrect. You should always use "in" when referring to a direction. For example, use "the wind is blowing in any direction" not "at any direction".

What are some alternatives to "at any direction"?

While "at any direction" is not grammatically correct, you can use "in any direction", "towards any direction", or simply "any way" depending on the intended meaning.

Which is correct: "at any direction" or "in any direction"?

"In any direction" is the correct grammatical form. "At any direction" is not standard English.