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Grammar Mishaps: Toward vs. Towards

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By Robin


What is the difference between toward and towards?

I was recently sent an email asking if I knew the difference between toward and towards. From what I was taught and can gather, the only distinction between the two is that towards is traditionally used in British English and toward is more traditionally used in American English. The two words are both correct and can be used interchangeably. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary agrees.

A bit more clarification

I have heard that towards refers to direction where toward reflects "with respect to" or "on the verge of".

I walked towards the car.

We are working toward a common goal.

In common usage, I think that they are more used interchangeably.

Any thoughts, clarifications or questions?

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jimmythejock profile image

jimmythejock  says:
3 years ago

Although Brittish, English is not my strong point.

could i look towards your next posting? or would i have to look forward to your next posting.....jimmy

jimmythejock profile image

jimmythejock  says:
3 years ago

oops forgot my example,i look towards your next posting for further guidance. rather than i look forward to your next posting for further guidance.....jimmy

Robin profile image

Robin  says:
3 years ago

Hi Jimmy. In the context you are using, the correct usage would be, "I look forward to your next posting". You used "further" correctly too! Did you see my hub on further vs. farther? http://hubpages.com/hub/Grammar_Mishaps__Farther_v

Thanks for the comments! Robin

StuartJ profile image

StuartJ  says:
3 years ago

This is an interesting one. I would tend towards using towards with the "s" myself, which gives weight to idea that it is more common in British English. But I would agree that in common usage they are probably used interchangeably.

Robin profile image

Robin  says:
3 years ago

Thanks for the British English reinforcement, StuartJ! It is always interesting to hear your take.

Jonathon VS  says:
3 years ago

Personally, I prefer "toward" to "towards" in formal writing, mostly because an added "s" is often indicative of sloppy diction (e.g. "All's you can do is wait.").

If I were to suggest "towards" for use, it would be to indicate direction, mostly because I've seen and heard it in that capacity more often.

Robin profile image

Robin  says:
3 years ago

Thanks for the comment, Jonathon. I appreciate it!

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
2 years ago

I use toward rather than towards - but the difference between UK and US usage is a nightmare - is gotten really used in US english - in UK usage is very slangy but I see it quite a lot on the web

Abdul Khalil  says:
2 years ago

For sure, what i learned and searched in the books and asked other colleaqes the are used to show the same idea only with some narrow and slight difference, which is the usage of GB and US English.

Abdul Khalil Hassani

From Kabul Afghanistan

Lida Mallosi  says:
2 years ago

Hi there! What does subsufficient mean?

James  says:
2 years ago

I was born and raised in Manila and am now based in the US. I've always been bilingual since I was little and always knew that the english we were speaking was American English but for some reason I would always say "towards". It is good to know that both are correct.

Mike  says:
17 months ago

Would the same be true with upward vs. upwards?

Mario   says:
16 months ago

Is the following sentence correctly written "They keep running towards the lake'

tiu  says:
13 months ago

I think so. :) Just add a period.

Vish  says:
12 months ago

@Mike: upward is used as an adjective (e.g. upward mobility), upwards is not.

Perfle  says:
12 months ago

I am glad, atleast 'towards' is not plural and, we can use it interchagably. Had it been plural, it would have made life difficult.

Perfle  says:
12 months ago

I am glad, atleast 'towards' is not plural and, we can use it interchagably. Had it been plural, it would have made life difficult.

Perfle  says:
12 months ago

I am glad, atleast 'towards' is not plural and, we can use it interchagably. Had it been plural, it would have made life difficult.

agfoster  says:
9 months ago

But "towards" never occurs in the King James Bible, printed in England in 1611, and "toward" never occurs in the Book of Mormon, printed in New York in 1830 (with two exceptions, one quote from the Bible and one changed after the 1830 ed.). Clearly "toward" is the earlier form of the word, but "towards" developed in England, and both forms made their way across the Atlantic.

USA!!!USA!!!USA!!  says:
8 months ago

worse vs worser

IS A GOOD ONE TOO!

Gabrielle  says:
4 months ago

Sorry, USA!!!USA!!!USA!!...

"Worser" is not a word. "Worse" is already the superlative form of "bad," so there's no where to go with it...

Gabrielle  says:
4 months ago

Editing myself:

Actually "worse" is the comparative form; "worst" is superlative.

uppity  says:
4 months ago

While toward and towards technically can be used interchangeably, the use of towards 'sounds' lower class or uneducated. I wish that didn't sound so elitist; but, many feel this way.

Kerri  says:
3 months ago

I agree with uppity. I use "toward" exclusively and was taught (many years ago) that "towards" is incorrect. How they came to be used and accepted interchangably is indicative of our language's downward trend to common rather than formal usage.

Oliver  says:
3 months ago

I'm British and live in the USA. Americans incorrectly use "toward" rather than "towards". Americanised English can be amusing, I still refuse to refer to "trousers" as "pants" and "Jelly" as "Jell-o" though :-)

Michigan Mom  says:
2 months ago

If you've got a journalism background like I do, you're a "toward" person. AP Style says always use "toward" and not "towards."

Curious  says:
2 months ago

Do you have a hub on "who" vs "whom"?

BK  says:
2 months ago

I have been curious about this too and that is how I ended up here. I was looking for which of it to use in writings or rather when to use 'toward' and when to use 'towards.'

PM  says:
2 months ago

I'd have to agree with the comment from Jonathon, that the added s sounds like some sort of rural colloqualism (says the small-town American). As far as the British perspective on it goes, I put that one in the same category as "learnt", which is more of an ingrained irregular conjugation than the more American "learned".

webwriter  says:
4 weeks ago

wow! this is one educational series of exchanges.. the Internet does provide an answer to many questions--on grammar included.. =)

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