Heading homewards

[ratóncolorao]

Hello,

I would like to know if, mainly Bristish English speakers, you find the following expression understandable and of common use:

"After our meeting I headed homewards walking as it was a very pleasant evening"

Thank you for your help.

 

[BobK]

'Heading home' ('Heading; -> what's the objective? Answer: 'home') is the same as 'going homewards', or 'being homeward bound'. I see no reason for saying 'heading homewards', as the idea of direction is inherent in the word 'heading' - though I'm sure many people use it. Whatever you decide, you need some punctuation.

b

 

[emsr2d2]

And "headed homeward walking" is unlikely. As BobK said, if you add some punctuation, it's better. You're much more likely to hear "headed home on foot" or "started walking home".

 

[Raymott]

Hello,

I would like to know if, mainly Bristish English speakers, you find the following expression understandable and of common use:

"After our meeting I headed homewards walking as it was a very pleasant evening"

Thank you for your help.

It's quite understandable, but "After the meeting, I decided to walk home, as it was a very pleasant evening" is more natural. Most readers would assume that you did indeed head home then.

 

[probus]

It is absolutely normal and very common usage in AmE.

 

[Raymott]

It is absolutely normal and very common usage in AmE.

What, the original without any commas?

 

[probus]

I think the original sounds very natural in AmE without commas.

 

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

How about this?:
"After the meeting, I walked homewards, as it was a very pleasant evening."

I agree with BobK that using "headed" with "homewards" feels redundant.

 

[Raymott]

That's not a redundancy in AusE. By analogy, we'd never say, "The rocket left the platform and headed sky", though we might easily say, "headed skywards".
"He left the meeting and headed home" implies to me that he reached home. "He headed homewards" or "He headed towards home" leaves open the possibility that he was kidnapped on the way home.