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Are both of the following sentences correct?

Let me know if there is still something I need to send to you.

Let me know if there is still something I need to send you.

Which one is more appropriate to use?

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  • A lot of confusion could have been avoided if you had said "send to you" or "send you", instead. The to relates to you, and not to send. The emphasis on 'send' is a distraction.
    – Kris
    Commented Jan 12, 2012 at 12:48
  • @Kris Are you suggesting I change the title of question to: Which one is more appropriate to use: “send to you” or “send you”?
    – Meysam
    Commented Jan 12, 2012 at 13:49
  • No, I'm suggesting to drop the 'send' in the title and emphasise (bold) only 'to you' and 'you' in the question body.
    – Kris
    Commented Jan 12, 2012 at 15:23
  • Related: What's wrong with “I'll open you the door”? and Direct and Indirect Objects with the verbs: Give, Buy, and Bring
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Jun 26, 2020 at 12:53

5 Answers 5

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Both are semantically correct as they are. But compare

I'll send it to you.

and

I'll send it you.

The second sentence wouldn't make sense in formal writing, but is found to be understandable in northern England spoken usage. There is also the case of

I'll send you this thing

Which flow much better without the to. In this light it might be more prudent to use send to you, as it is more formal, but send you in your context would also be accepted.

EDIT: I precised my conclusion and added one example following precisions made in the comments.

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    I think it depends very much on the context, as the phrase "I will send you an email" is infinitely more pleasing to my ear than "I will send to you an email". Also just to throw in my two cents, in certain English dialects (particularly northern) the phrase "I'll send it you" would be understood perfectly, and might even be more popular than the more correct alternative.
    – Andy F
    Commented Jan 24, 2011 at 10:01
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    I agree with Andy. I'd actually go as far as to say "I'll send it you" is the more common British English spoken usage, although "I'll send it to you" might be preferable for more formal written English.
    – gpr
    Commented Jan 24, 2011 at 10:58
  • I agree with Andy F. My wife grew up in northern England and says, for example, "I'll give it you" rather than "I'll give it to you", which is standard usage in southern England.
    – Antony Quinn
    Commented Jan 24, 2011 at 11:02
  • @gpr is correct, and to clarify I meant that "I'll send it you" (or Antony's "I'll give it you") would not be correct in written English, but would be acceptable in informal spoken language.
    – Andy F
    Commented Jan 24, 2011 at 11:25
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    In American English, "I'll give it you" will get you strange looks, although folks will probably decipher what it means. Perhaps this is regional, but I've lived in many regions and never heard this construct in common use.
    – Lynn
    Commented Jan 11, 2012 at 16:57
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In addition to what others have said, You can simply find out the difference comparing two sentences: send somebody something

We sent Mom flowers for Mother's Day.

send something to somebody/something

I'll send a copy to you.

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2

Send you is fine: You is an indirect object.

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1

The first sentence is more correct at any time, I will send it to you, send followed by the object to who? I will send the dog to school, I will send him to you. But saying I will send you, sounds I will send you to school, I will send you out.

The verb send must give room to destination, medium of sending and object to be send, and if destination should be specified, it comes at end of the statement. So saying "I will send you books", "you books" (also your books) sounds like a possessive noun phrase and as a whole becomes direct object to the verb "send". according to the aforementioned rule, let us give it a destination (you) and medium of sending (via email), constructively the statement will be I will send you books via email to you. It does not sound good, with following the rule it will be I will books via email to you.

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The pattern is:

  • to send somebody something: "send you an email";
  • to send something to somebody: "send an email to you".
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    Your answer is poorly formatted and has misspellings. Please edit it.
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Commented Dec 5, 2013 at 10:35

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