The quality of being direct; straightforwardness, honesty, or the shortest path between two points.
From 'direct' (Latin directus, 'straightforward') + '-ness' (Old English suffix forming abstract nouns). This common term has been in use since at least the 16th century.
Directness is culturally loaded—what feels pleasantly honest in Germany might feel rude in Japan, yet 'directness' as a value has spread globally through English business culture, sometimes creating friction when people from different traditions misread intent.
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