in their direction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in their direction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a movement or action that is aimed towards a specific person or group. Example: "The dog ran excitedly in their direction when it saw its owners approaching."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

No matter how many conciliatory steps Democrats take in their direction, Republicans just keep backing away.

Huffington Post

But theirs is a long game, and history is moving in their direction.

The New Yorker

Federman smiled in their direction.

The New Yorker

Let's keep heaping pressure in their direction.

The Guardian - Sport

A man mimed tossing a Pokéball in their direction.

The Guardian - Tech

And the trend isn't moving in their direction.

The New Yorker

Suddenly, the father fires a gun in their direction.

The New Yorker

The WHO has been moving in their direction.

The Guardian

Only full-fledged matadors wave capes in their direction.

The New York Times

Yet mathematicians hadn't focused attention in their direction.

The New York Times - Arts

The soldiers then allegedly fired more teargas in their direction.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in their direction" when you want to describe a movement, glance, or action specifically oriented towards a group of people, as opposed to a general area or location.

Common error

Avoid using "in their direction" when the intended group is unclear or has not been previously defined. Make sure the pronoun "their" has a clear and unambiguous antecedent to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in their direction" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate the direction of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. For example, "The dog ran excitedly in their direction" describes how the dog ran.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in their direction" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that functions adverbially, indicating movement or orientation toward a specific group. According to Ludwig AI, it is widely accepted. Primarily found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various applications. For more concise alternatives, consider ""toward them"". When using "in their direction", ensure that the antecedent of "their" is clear to prevent ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

toward them

A more direct and concise way of indicating movement or orientation toward a specific group.

in the direction of them

A slightly more verbose but equally valid way of specifying the direction.

in their path

Implies being situated or moving along the route or course that a group is taking.

aimed at them

Emphasizes the targeting or directing of something towards a specific group.

oriented towards them

Highlights the alignment or positioning of something with respect to a specific group.

in their general vicinity

Indicates being in the approximate area or surroundings of a group, rather than directly toward them.

facing their way

Focuses on the physical orientation or alignment of something or someone.

with them as a focus

Emphasizes that the group is the central point of attention or action.

in relation to them

Broader term that signifies how something stands or is considered in comparison with a specific group.

regarding them

Shifts the focus to consideration or discussion about the group, rather than physical direction.

FAQs

How can I use "in their direction" in a sentence?

The phrase "in their direction" indicates movement or orientation toward a specific group. For example, "The dog ran excitedly "toward them" when it saw its owners approaching."

What are some alternatives to "in their direction"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""toward them"", "in their path", or "aimed at them".

Is it better to use "toward them" or "in their direction"?

Both "toward them" and "in their direction" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Toward them" is more concise, while "in their direction" may sound more descriptive in certain contexts.

Can "in their direction" be used figuratively?

Yes, "in their direction" can be used figuratively to describe non-physical movements or orientations. For example, "Public opinion is inching "in their direction"" suggests a shift in agreement or support.