Difference between point at and point to?

[ROBINDESBOIS]

What is the difference in meaning between point out and point to?
Many thanks in advance.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

What is the difference in meaning between point out and point to?
Many thanks in advance.

Your thread title is confusing:

Point at = physically indicating a direction with an arm, hand and finger. Children are often told it is rude to point at a person.

Point out = to explain, to make an observation. He wanted to go shopping, but I pointed out that it was Sunday and the shops were closed.

Point to = to indicate in a vague way, to suggest. He lived in Paris, which pointed to a frivolous lifestyle. (Not a very good example )

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Your thread title is confusing:

Point at = physically indicating a direction with an arm, hand and finger. Children are often told it is rude to point at a person.

Point out = to explain, to make an observation. He wanted to go shopping, but I pointed out that it was Sunday and the shops were closed.

Point to = to indicate in a vague way, to suggest. He lived in Paris, which pointed to a frivolous lifestyle. (Not a very good example )

Probably Rusty will point to you that "you are being too harsh with your self"

Would that be a better example or Am I off, as always?

[Rusty]

Perhaps someone will point out to you that you're being too harsh with yourself.


Point to may also be synonymous with point at in certain circumstances.
For example:
Can you point to the oak tree in this picture?
Can you point at the oak tree in this picture?

[ROBINDESBOIS]

In a word?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Perhaps someone will point out to you that you're being too harsh with yourself.
hahaha!

Point to may also be synonymous with point at in certain circumstances.
For example:
Can you point to the oak tree in this picture?
Can you point at the oak tree in this picture?

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

In a word?

Yes. My thumb broke the rule.

[Rusty]

I didn't mention this before, but it's also quite alright to say:
Can you point out the oak tree in this picture?

All three prepositions can follow point in this sort of question, and have the same meaning.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

gracias