direct/directly

[tipu s]

1-He went direct to his boss.
2-This matter is directly related to me.
3-It hardly affects any of them directly.
4-Inflation will directly affect the common man.

While using as adverb, how can we ensure the correct usage? Is there any clear-cut rule about where to use 'directly' and where to use 'direct'(adverb)??

 

[Karima-19]

1-He went directly to his boss.
2-This matter is directly related to me.
3-It hardly affects any of them directly.
4-Inflation will directly affect the common man.

While using as adverb, how can we ensure the correct usage? Is there any clear-cut rule about where to use 'directly' and where to use 'direct'(adverb)??

Not a teacher.

Hello!

For my information direct is used as an (adjective). And Directly is used as an (adverb).

Look at this example:

1- The direct method, came as an alternative to the grammar method. (Adjective)
- It was a direct question. (Adjective)
2- Go directly through this way, you will find the bank. (Adverb)

Your examples are correct except the first one.

Good luck

 

[Rover_KE]

Sorry, Karima, 'He went direct to his boss' is correct.

Direct is a perfectly respectable adverb in this context.

direct /dɪˈrɛkt, dʌɪ-/

▶adverb
in a direct way or by a direct route.

(WordReference dictionary)

Rover

 

[bhaisahab]

I would say "He went directly to his boss".

 

[TheParser]

1-He went direct to his boss.
2-This matter is directly related to me.
3-It hardly affects any of them directly.
4-Inflation will directly affect the common man.

While using as adverb, how can we ensure the correct usage? Is there any clear-cut rule about where to use 'directly' and where to use 'direct'(adverb)??

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) You have already received many good answers.

(2) Do you know what Mr. Bryan A. Garner says? Many people

(especially Americans) follow the advice in his A Dictionary of

Modern American Usage. (I have changed a few of his words.)

(3) We flew direct/directly from Dallas [in the state of Texas] to Frankfurt [in Germany]. = no stops. Mr. Garner says both are correct in
American English.

(4) They left directly [immediately] after the meeting.

(5) She was directly responsible. = nobody in between.

(6) directly [totally] opposite.

(7) They will be going directly [soon]. Mr. Garner says this use is

popular in the southern part of the United States.

(8) Directly [as soon as] we saw him, we cheered. Mr. Garner says that

this use is only in British English.


*****


This is NOT an easy matter. If you have a specific question, please

post it here. The excellent teachers and many non-teachers will be

delighted to answer.

For example, a mother might tell her son: After school, come

directly home. For some reason, you cannot use direct in this

sentence. Maybe it's because of the word "home." Hopefully, a

teacher will tell us the reason.

 

[Allen165]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(7) They will be going directly [soon]. Mr. Garner says this use is

popular in the southern part of the United States.

NOT A TEACHER.

I apologize for asking a question unconnected with this thread, but I'd like to know if "use" should or could be "usage" in TheParser's sentence. If "usage" refers to a particular way in which a word is used, then I would use it here instead of "use."

I hope you won't interpret this as an attempt to show you up, TheParser; I just wanted to take this opportunity to have the differences between the two words clarified.

Thanks a lot!

 

[5jj]

I would say "He went directly to his boss".

I'd normally use 'direct' - in the OALD sense of 'without involving other people'. This is a personal choice; I do not consider 'directly' to be incorrect or inappropriate.

 

[5jj]

I apologize for asking a question unconnected with this thread, but I'd like to know if "use" should or could be "usage" in TheParser's sentence. If "usage" refers to a particular way in which a word is used, then I would use it here instead of "use."

There are a couple of thoughts here. usage/use'

I'd suggest that discussion of this be continued in that thread, or in a new one, rather than here.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER.

I apologize for asking a question unconnected with this thread, but I'd like to know if "use" should or could be "usage" in TheParser's sentence. If "usage" refers to a particular way in which a word is used, then I would use it here instead of "use."

I hope you won't interpret this as an attempt to show you up, TheParser; I just wanted to take this opportunity to have the differences between the two words clarified.

Thanks a lot!

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I accept full blame for the use (usage?) of "use." Mr. Garner

did not use it. He simply wrote " ... is typical of southern AmE."

(2) As everyone knows, you have a lawyer's mind. That is, you

quite rightly are always looking for the le bon juste. (No, I canNOT

pronounce it!!!)

(3) Thanks to you, I shall now spend my Sunday trying to learn the

difference between the two words. I look forward to studying the link

given to us by one of the the best teachers at this site.

(4) Don't worry about "showing me up." I need to be shown up.

In fact, we all do. We want visitors to this website to have the

highest quality of language advice. We want usingenglish.com to

become the unofficial language academy of the English language.

 

[Karima-19]

Sorry, Karima, 'He went direct to his boss' is correct.

Direct is a perfectly respectable adverb in this context.

(WordReference dictionary)

Rover

Well, I appreciate your opinion but I think that saying: " He went directly to his boss" is better than saying "He went direct to his boss" anyway, I think that both of them work in this context.

 

[5jj]

Well, I appreciate your opinion but I think that saying: " He went directly to his boss" is better than saying "He went direct to his boss" anyway, I think that both of them work in this context.

When an experienced English teacher, a native speaker, says that something is correct and gives a reference from a dictionary, it is not exactly tactful to suggest that your answer is better. If you thought that, there was no need for you to post the question in the first place, or for the teacher to spend time on a response.

 

[cubezero3]

Hello, I am not a native speaker.

I happen to have a book called A dictionary of Modern English Usage, written by H.W. Fowler. I refer direct to it and saw the following words. I shall write them down here and hope it may help.

direct(ly). The right adverb if straight is meant is direct; directly should be confined to the meaning of immediately.