Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after adjectives

Direct to or direct from?

Direct to usually shows a destination or target. Direct from shows an origin or source.

Quick answer

How is direct used with prepositions?

Use direct to for movement, communication, or connection toward someone or something. Use direct from for origin or source.

The flight is direct to Rome.
These products come direct from the factory.
Please send questions direct to the manager.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
direct to + destination or person

Showing direction or target

Use direct to for movement, delivery, or communication aimed at a person or place.

The train offers a route direct to the airport.
Complaints should be direct to customer support.
2
direct from + source

Showing origin or source

Use direct from when something comes immediately from a place, company, or person.

We buy coffee direct from local farmers.
The information came direct from the report.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
direct to
The bus goes direct to the station.
Shows destination or target.
direct from
The package arrived direct from Italy.
Shows source or origin.
direct at
His comment was direct at the audience.
At can appear separately to show a target, but it is less fixed than direct to.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Mixing up destination and source

Use to for where something goes and from for where it comes from.

✕ The goods were shipped direct to Spain. ✓ The goods were shipped direct from Spain.

Using from for a target

When communication or movement is aimed at someone, use to.

✕ Please send the email direct from me. ✓ Please send the email direct to me.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The flight goes direct ___ Paris.
2. We received the order direct ___ the manufacturer.
3. Questions should be directed ___ the supervisor.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Can I say direct from the source?

Yes. It means something comes immediately from the original source.

Is direct to common with travel?

Yes. It is common for routes, flights, trains, and buses.

Can direct be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example, direct contact and direct communication do not need a preposition.

daily, for, daily, with, daily, in damaging to, for, of, in or as? damn about, near, for, to or as? "dangerous for" or "dangerous to"? "dark in", "dark for" or "dark of"? "daunting for" or "daunting to"? dead in, on, by, at or of? deadly to, in, for, of or with? "deaf to" or "deaf in"? dear to, in, for, of or as? deceased in, to, for, at or on? "decent in" or "decent for"?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account