towards the right

USAGE SUMMARY

'towards the right' is a perfectly correct and usable expression in written English.
For example, you could say: "He walked towards the right, away from the crowd".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The shot curled towards the right.

The Guardian - Sport

Enough to tilt the clone's views towards the right.

The Guardian

But when he entered politics, he gravitated towards the right.

The Guardian

Bear left, slightly uphill, heading towards the right of the TV masts.

The Guardian - Travel

Think Steptoe & Son as reimagined by John Waters and you're edging towards the right ballpark.

The Guardian - Film

Mandzukic dashed towards the right of the area and Ramos flew across.

The Guardian - Sport

Its selection of Yazdi looks like a shift towards the right.

The Guardian

An architect of Mr Schröder's reforms, he leans towards the right.

The Economist

In other words, how do you point a teenager towards the "right" porn?

The New York Times

After losing his ministerial post when Adolfo Suarez gained power, Fraga edged back towards the right.

Independent

After losing the White House in 2008, the party shifted towards the right.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "towards the right" to describe political leanings, ensure the context provides sufficient background to avoid misinterpretations. Be specific about what aspects are moving in that direction.

Common error

When using "towards the right" for physical direction, ensure there's a clear point of reference. Without it, the direction can be unclear to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "towards the right" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate direction or orientation. It suggests a movement or tendency in a particular direction, both literally and figuratively. Ludwig provides examples in contexts ranging from physical movement to ideological shifts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36.67%

Science

36.67%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3.33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "towards the right" is a versatile prepositional phrase widely used to indicate direction, orientation, or a shift in perspective, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, adding detail to descriptions of movement or inclination. While its formality is generally neutral, awareness of context is crucial to avoid ambiguity, especially in political discussions. With a very common frequency and presence in diverse sources like news, science, and wiki articles, "towards the right" remains a valuable expression in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to the right

A more concise way of indicating direction, lacking the nuance of progression.

on the right-hand side

Specifies a location on the right, emphasizing physical position.

in a rightward direction

A more formal way to indicate movement towards the right.

shifting rightward

Highlights a change or movement in the right direction.

inclining to the right

Suggests a leaning or bias towards the right.

progressing to the right

Emphasizes advancement towards the right.

drifting to the right

Implies a gradual, often unintentional, movement to the right.

gravitating towards conservatism

Expresses a shift in political ideology.

moving towards the conservative viewpoint

Indicates an adoption of conservative ideas.

becoming more right-leaning

Describes a tendency to adopt right-wing principles.

FAQs

How can I use "towards the right" in a sentence?

You can use "towards the right" to indicate a direction, as in "He moved "towards the right" side of the room", or to describe a shift in ideology, such as "The party's platform shifted "towards the right" after the election".

What are some alternatives to "towards the right"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "on the right", "in a rightward direction", or, if referring to politics, "shifting rightward".

Is it always clear what "towards the right" means?

While generally understood, the meaning of "towards the right" can depend on the context. For physical direction, a clear reference point is needed. In politics, it implies a move towards conservatism or right-wing ideologies.

What does "towards the right" imply in a political context?

In a political context, "towards the right" suggests a shift towards more conservative or right-wing policies and ideologies. This can involve changes in social views, economic policies, or approaches to governance.