point to vs. point at

[Lilish]

Hi!
when can we say point to ,and when can we say point at?

[Mister Micawber]

.
Most times, I suppose. 'Point to' is used metaphorically more often, I suspect.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Molly]

Here are a few common collocations with "point to":

1 POINT TO THE FACT THAT

2 POINT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF

3 POINT TO THE NEED FOR

4 POINT TO A NUMBER OF

5 POINT TO THE NEED TO

6 POINT TO AND SAY ,

7 POINT TO SOME OF THE

8 POINT TO THE EXISTENCE OF

9 POINT TO THE CASE OF

10 POINT TO THE LACK OF

11 POINT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF

12 POINT TO THE SUCCESS OF

13 POINT TO A COUPLE OF

14 POINT TO A SERIES OF

15 POINT TO SOME KIND OF

16 POINT TO STUDIES SHOWING THAT

17 POINT TO A STRING OF

18 POINT TO IT AND SAY

19 POINT TO ME AND SAY

20 POINT TO THE ABSENCE OF

[Molly]

And a few collocations with "point at":

1 POINT AT AN ANGLE TO

2 POINT AT EACH OTHER ,

3 POINT AT LAWLESSNESS , OUR

4 POINT AT HIM , YOU

5 POINT AT THE RIVER AND

6 POINT AT THE SCREEN ,

7 POINT AT HIM , BUT

8 POINT AT HER STATUE AND

9 POINT AT HER BLACK SKATES

10 POINT AT HER . KORBEN

11 POINT AT HAMAS AND ISLAMIC

12 POINT AT GODDESS , LYING

13 POINT AT EDIE 'S HEAD

14 POINT AT EDIE . ''

15 POINT AT JUST ONE TUMOR

16 POINT AT IT WITH YOUR

17 POINT AT IT OR REACH

18 POINT AT IT AND SAY

19 POINT AT IT . THIS

20 POINT AT IT . ''

[Molly]

Points at:

1 POINTS AT THE GROUND .

2 POINTS AT YOUR BELT BUCKLE

3 POINTS AT A TIME .

4 POINTS AT HIS HEAD .

5 POINTS AT IT .

6 POINTS AT ME , AND

7 POINTS AT ME , POINTS

8 POINTS AT ME . ''

9 POINTS AT THE BOTTOM OF

10 POINTS AT THE END OF

11 POINTS AT HIM AND GRINS

12 POINTS AT HIM . THE

13 POINTS AT HIM . DO

14 POINTS AT HIM , YELLING

15 POINTS AT HIM , ITS

16 POINTS AT HIM ) YOU

17 POINTS AT HER UNIFORM .

18 POINTS AT HER TIGHT SHIRT

19 POINTS AT HER MAN ,

20 POINTS AT HER LITTLE HANDBAG

[Molly]

Points to:

1 POINTS TO THE FACT THAT

2 POINTS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF

3 POINTS TO THE NEED FOR

4 POINTS TO ONE OF THE

5 POINTS TO THE NEED TO

6 POINTS TO THE CONCLUSION THAT

7 POINTS TO HIS HEAD )

8 POINTS TO SOME OF THE

9 POINTS TO A NUMBER OF

10 POINTS TO A PHOTO OF

11 POINTS TO THE COMPANY 'S

12 POINTS TO IT .

13 POINTS TO THE CASE OF

14 POINTS TO THE EXISTENCE OF

15 POINTS TO A PICTURE OF

16 POINTS TO A RECENT STUDY

17 POINTS TO STUDIES THAT SHOW

18 POINTS TO THE DOOR .

19 POINTS TO THE FAILURE OF

20 POINTS TO THE NECESSITY OF

Source for all the above examples: http://www.americancorpus.org/