Word Choice – Can ‘I Don’t Know Someone Directly’ Be Correct?

phrasesword-choice

I know the phrase "I know (someone) in person/personally." However, I didn't find the word "directly" used with that phrase. Also, I don't find that "in person" and "personally" fit the situation I intend.

The situation:

Note: X, Y, and Z are all females, so I'm going to refer to them individually by "her".

X told Y about Z some basic and general information as
Z's name and workplace. Now Y wants to tell her mother
that she didn't meet, see, or talk with Z. So, Y says:
"I don't know Z directly, but I know her from X."

In person means involving someone's physical presence rather than communicating by phone, e-mail..etc

Cambridge Dictionary

Personally means if you meet or know someone personally, you meet or know them in real life, rather than knowing about them or knowing their work.

Collins Dictionary

If "directly" isn't proper, I may go with "personally".

Best Answer

If you have had no direct contact with her and know about her only through the intermediary of your friends, you can refer to that fact in a number of ways, among them:

I've never met her personally.

I myself have never met her.

I don't know her myself, but my friend X who does know her says she ...

If you've only spoken with a person on the phone or communicated via email or letter:

I've never met her face-to-face.

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