proceed in the direction of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proceed in the direction of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when giving directions or indicating a course of action towards a specific location or goal. Example: "To reach the conference room, please proceed in the direction of the elevators and take a left."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Three virtually irreversible steps in glucose catabolism (see [Reaction [10], [3], and [step [1]) that cannot be utilized in gluconeogenesis, however, are bypassed by alternative reactions that tend to proceed in the direction of glucose synthesis (Figure 9).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hence, one strand of further work will proceed in the direction of establishing and characterising the relevant dynamics affecting the likelihood of repeat requests of cached content based on both popularity and passage of time.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

Should the development proceed in the direction of the tool scenario and should human beings keep their freedom to shape, this technology could be employed as a kind of assistance system.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

In the proposed new scheme, use is made of wave reflection and transmission matrices, making it possible for all computations to proceed in the direction of wave propagation so that the results are always stable numerically.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

However, instead of proceeding in the direction of Italy, the convoy rambled interminably northward into the heart of the steppe.

The Guardian - Film

I took a train to Sandycove and proceeded in the direction of the tower, which stood on the horizon bathed in the glow of floodlights.

The Guardian - Books

In region A a can-profile (i.e., cylindrical) red buoy with a red light indicates the port (left) side of the channel when proceeding in the direction of buoyage, while a conical green buoy indicates the starboard (right) side.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Clausius form of the second law states that spontaneous change for an irreversible process in an isolated system (that is, one that does not exchange heat or work with its surroundings) always proceeds in the direction of increasing entropy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The discovery of intergenic transcripts initiating in the LCR and proceeding in the direction of the globin genes have suggested a tracking mechanism of enhancer-gene contact in which the LCR and associated factors including RNAPII track through the locus in search of an activatable gene promoter.

Plosone

If the change proceeds in the direction of increasing individual freedom, the integration may be easier because the new culture might seem to be more appealing than the previous one [ 18].

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

If LUCA was a (nearly) minimal free-living organism, subsequent evolution in each lineage should have generally proceeded in the direction of increasing complexity and, by necessity, would have been dominated by gene gain, via HGT and, to a lesser extent, "invention" of new genes.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proceed in the direction of" to provide clear and formal instructions, especially when describing routes, processes, or strategic advancements.

Common error

Avoid using "proceed in the direction of" in informal contexts where simpler phrases like "go towards" or "head to" would be more appropriate. Overusing formal language can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proceed in the direction of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating movement towards a specific location or goal. It provides directional information, specifying the course of action or movement, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "proceed in the direction of" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate movement toward a specific location or goal. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, it is considered uncommon in everyday language, often appearing in more formal or technical contexts such as science, news reporting, and encyclopedic entries. The phrase functions primarily to provide clear directional information, guiding individuals or processes towards a defined endpoint. For less formal situations, alternatives like "head towards" or "go towards" might be more appropriate. Remember to reserve the use of "proceed in the direction of" for situations where a more formal and precise tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move in the direction of

This alternative simply replaces "proceed" with "move", maintaining a similar level of formality.

go in the direction of

This alternative is very similar but uses the more general verb "go" instead of "proceed".

head towards

This alternative is more concise and informal, focusing on the act of moving towards a destination.

advance towards

This alternative suggests a more purposeful and deliberate movement, often implying progress.

progress towards

This alternative emphasizes the idea of making progress, rather than just physical movement.

make headway toward

This alternative is more idiomatic and suggests overcoming obstacles while moving towards a goal.

set out for

This alternative implies starting a journey or undertaking with a specific destination in mind.

steer toward

This alternative implies guiding or directing something, like a vehicle, towards a specific point.

bear toward

This alternative is somewhat archaic and suggests a deliberate change in direction.

gravitate toward

This alternative suggests a natural or involuntary movement towards something, often due to attraction or influence.

FAQs

What does "proceed in the direction of" mean?

The phrase "proceed in the direction of" means to move or go forward toward a particular place or goal. It suggests a deliberate and purposeful movement.

What can I say instead of "proceed in the direction of"?

You can use alternatives like "head towards", "go in the direction of", or "move in the direction of" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "proceed in the direction of" or "go towards"?

"Proceed in the direction of" is more formal and suitable for official or technical contexts. "Go towards" is simpler and more appropriate for everyday conversation or informal writing.

How can I make my writing sound less formal when I want to describe movement?

Instead of using phrases like "proceed in the direction of", consider using simpler alternatives such as "head to", "move toward", or "go to".