indicate towards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indicate towards" is not considered correct in standard written English.
The correct usage would typically be "indicate" or "point towards" without the preposition "towards." Example: "The data indicates a significant trend in consumer behavior."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Thirdly, in addition to prominent absence of J2a1b-M67 and J2a-M92 in southwestern Asia, practical absence of HGs J1-M267 and G-M201 in India, respectively, occur at 9% and 10.9% in Turkey38, 33.1% and 2.2% in Iraq14, and 3.4% and 6% in Pakistan18, indicate towards different dispersal events from Middle East to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia.

Nature

These results indicate towards the possibility of existence of two separate time temperature transformation (TTT) curves, one for the evolution of ω-phase and another for nucleation and growth of Ni3(Ti, Mo).

Acta Materialia

These observations indicate towards possible function of various NCX genes in different tissues and developmental stages.

Rice

The size of the particles on the surface indicate towards the silver nanoparticles embedding (Fig. 3b).

Chemistry Central Journal

Such mutants would indicate towards a possible link between the missing enzyme and its cellular roles as well as the biochemical action of substances tested.

Environmental Sciences Europe

However, as the drug is crystalline, total disappearance of its peak in the thermogram of the NPs indicate towards its existence as a molecular dispersion rather than amorphous form.

Cancer Nanotechnology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

And you indicated towards the end there was an acknowledgment from the crew.

The New York Times

Indicating towards his captive with his knife, the killer says: "If you, Cameron, persist in fighting the Islamic State, then you, like your master Obama, will have the blood of your people on your hands".

The Guardian

Manchester United have long appeared to be Bale's most likely suitors in England, with the club indicating towards the end of last year they were determined to sign him and were not put off by his injury problems.

The Guardian - Sport

The non-vanishing nature of the mutual information indicates towards the existence of dependence between the different spectral components generated by the random fibre laser (also see Supplementary Fig. 7).

Nature

Chisora: (Shouting and indicating towards Haye).

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the simpler and more direct verb "indicate" without the preposition "towards". This enhances clarity and aligns with standard English usage.

Common error

Do not use "towards" after "indicate". The verb "indicate" already implies direction, making the preposition redundant and the phrase unnecessarily wordy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicate towards" functions as a verb phrase intended to show direction or suggest a particular outcome. However, Ludwig AI notes it is often redundant because the verb "indicate" already implies direction, making the preposition "towards" unnecessary. The usage is more prevalent in scientific literature, though simpler alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "indicate towards" appears in various sources, especially scientific ones, Ludwig AI suggests that it is grammatically incorrect and redundant. The verb "indicate" already implies direction. Better alternatives include using "indicate" alone, or using synonyms like "suggest", "point to", or "imply". To maintain clarity and adhere to standard English grammar, avoid using "towards" after "indicate". Opt for the more concise and grammatically sound option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Indicate

Removes the redundant preposition "towards", resulting in a more concise and grammatically sound expression.

Suggest

Replaces "indicate" with a synonym implying a less direct pointing towards something.

Point to

Offers a more direct and active way of saying that something serves as evidence.

Imply

Emphasizes the indirect suggestion of something without explicitly stating it.

Allude to

Similar to 'imply' but often suggests a more subtle or indirect reference.

Hint at

Implies a subtle or indirect suggestion, often used when something is not explicitly stated.

Lead to believe

Focuses on the conclusion that someone might draw based on the evidence.

Be indicative of

A more formal way of saying that something serves as a sign or symptom.

Signify

Indicates that something has meaning or importance.

Be a sign of

Focuses on something serving as an omen or indication.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "indicate towards"?

The phrase "indicate towards" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's more appropriate to simply use "indicate" as the verb already implies direction. Using "indicate" is clearer and more concise.

What's a better alternative to the phrase "indicate towards"?

A better alternative is to use the verb "indicate" alone. Other options include "suggest", "point to", or "imply", depending on the context.

How can I use "indicate" correctly in a sentence?

Use "indicate" followed directly by the object of the verb. For example, instead of "The results indicate towards a trend", say "The results indicate a trend".

What's the difference between "indicate" and "suggest"?

"Indicate" usually implies a more direct or explicit pointing to something, while "suggest" implies a more indirect or subtle pointing to something. "Indicate" is more assertive than "suggest".