Asked by: Dr. Jennifer Yost Sr.
Score: 5/5
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The only difference between toward and towards is the s. Both spellings are correct, and they mean the same thing: in the direction of. Toward is the preferred spelling in the United States and Canada.
Which is correct towards or toward?
According to the Chicago Manual of Style, the preferred form in American English is toward without the -s, while the preferred British English form is towards with the -s. This general rule works with other directional words, including forward, backward, upward, and downward, along with afterward.
Where do we use towards?
Toward(s) most often means ‘in the direction of something‘: The oil pollution is now moving towards the shore, and could threaten beaches and wild life. He stood up and moved toward the door. We use toward(s) to mean ‘in relation to someone or something’.
Is there a difference between to and towards?
To and toward(s) cannot be used interchangeably as explained in the following extract: The preposition to is another common preposition of place. … The preposition toward has a similar meaning, but it’s not exactly the same: with toward, the direction of the movement is shown, but not the result.
Is toward an adverb?
Be careful: Towards is a preposition, not an adverb, so it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun.
34 related questions found
Is towards grammatically correct?
Both spellings are correct, and they mean the same thing: in the direction of. Toward is the preferred spelling in the United States and Canada. In other English-speaking countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, towards is the more common spelling.
Is towards an adjective?
When toward is used as an adjective, its meaning is not the same as that of the adverb or preposition. … It developed its meaning from ‘in the direction to’ through various further meanings: ‘approaching’, ‘coming [in time]’, ‘impending’;
How do you use towards in a sentence?
Towards sentence example
- They moved towards the three. …
- Some of them ran towards the east, some towards the west, and some towards the south. …
- Darian darted towards the house.
Is forwards a proper word?
Forward is an adverb, an adjective, a verb and a noun. Forwards is a variant form of the adverb and is becoming rare.
Is towards a preposition of time?
towards preposition (POSITION)
near to, just before, or around a time or place: Our seats were towards the back of the theatre.
What is the synonym of towards?
with regard to, as regards, regarding, in regard to, with regard to, in respect to, with respect to, respecting, in relation to, concerning, about, in connection with, apropos.
Is toward plural?
Towards (with an ‘S’) is not plural. Typically, nouns can be singular or plural. Since towards is usually a preposition (and rarely, an adjective), it can’t be plural.
Is it upward or upwards?
Upward is the adjective, as in He took an upward swing with the bat. Upwards is the more common adverb, but upward too is an adverb, as in We climbed upwards [upward] along the ridge. All three are Standard.»
Is by a preposition word?
“By” is usually a preposition but sometimes acts as an adverb. It can be used in many ways, but today we will talk about four uses as a preposition and show you where it is placed in a sentence.
Is it backward or backwards?
Both backward and backwards are correct, but most sources say that when you’re using the word as an adverb, backward is standard in American English and backwards is standard in British English. The way I remember the difference is to think that Americans like shortcuts. … In the US, we use the shorter word: backward.
Does Do antonym?
Antonyms. leader disobey disoblige violate predate literalize spiritualize. make out come proceed go get along.
What does going towards mean?
: to help pay for (something) My extra income is going towards a new car. Your donations will go toward better sanitation for refugees.
Is towards a noun or pronoun?
As detailed above, ‘towards’ is a preposition.
What is related verb of towards?
Words related to toward
against, anent, apropos, beneficial, coming, concerning, facing, favoring, forward, into, near, obliging, propitious, regarding, willing.
What part of speech is towards?
The English word toward is classified as a preposition. This means that it describes the relationship between different things.
Is towards formal?
Though some people argue ‘towards’ is more formal or correct than ‘toward’, they are just different variants of the same word. The word is a preposition that means ‘in the direction of’.
Can you end a sentence with towards?
It’s not an error to end a sentence with a preposition, but it is a little less formal. In emails, text messages, and notes to friends, it’s perfectly fine. But if you’re writing a research paper or submitting a business proposal and you want to sound very formal, avoid ending sentences with prepositions.
Main Toward vs. Towards Takeaways:
- When toward and towards are prepositions, they have the same meaning. They are interchangeable.
- The only difference between toward and towards as prepositions is regional.
- Toward is preferred in the U.S. and Canada, while Australia and the United Kingdom typically use towards.
- Both toward and towards mean “in the direction of.” They can also indicate relation or purpose.
- However, when an adjective, only toward (no ‘S’) is correct. This usage is rare.
Should you walk toward the museum or towards it? Have your feelings changed toward or towards your ex? As prepositions, both words are acceptable. The only difference between them is where each is commonly used.
What is the Difference Between Toward and Towards?
As a preposition, toward and towards are both correct. The only real difference between the two words is the letter ‘S’ at the end. Traditionally, toward (no ‘S’) is more common in the U.S. and Canada. Meanwhile, towards (with the ‘S’) is more common in Australia and the United Kingdom. Towards is also the preferred term for informal conversations in the U.S., especially in the south. Regardless of which spelling you choose, both words have the same meaning. However, when an adjective, only towardis correct.
What Does Toward Mean?
As a preposition, toward is a directional word. As a result, towardmeans in the direction of. Figuratively, it can mean in relation to or for the purpose of. Rarely, toward can be an adjective instead. In this case, toward references something that is going on or in progress. Toward and towards are interchangeable as prepositions.However, when toward is an adjective, don’t add an ‘s’ at the end of the word.
Towarddefinition:(preposition) in the direction of; in relation to; for the purpose of
Towardsdefinition:(preposition) in the direction of; in relation to; for the purpose of
Is There Such a Word as Towards?
Yes, towards is a real word and it can be used interchangeably with toward. Towardsandtoward function as prepositions in sentences. They both refer to the direction of someone or something. Both terms could also mean close in location or time.
The only difference between towards and toward is that towards is commonly used in British English. Meanwhile, toward is favored in American English. Other than that, these two words hold the same meaning and function.
Is Towards Plural?
Towards (with an ‘S’) is not plural. Typically, nouns can be singular or plural. Since towards is usually a preposition (and rarely, an adjective), it can’t be plural. Therefore, the difference between toward vs. towards is not singular vs. plural. In fact, it’s not grammatical at all. Instead, the difference is regional. For example, toward without an ‘S’ is more North American but towards with an ‘S’ is more British. Both are correct and interchangeable.
How Do You Use Towards in a Sentence?
Here are examples of how to use towards in a sentence:
Since towards is acting as a preposition in all of the above examples, you could easily use toward instead.
Use toward ortowards in a sentence when you need to express direction, a relationship, or purpose. Remember that you always need an object with these words because toward and towards are prepositions.
Remember, your sentence formula should always be toward(s) + object. An object is a noun or pronoun affected by a preposition or verb.
Can You End a Sentence with Toward?
When toward is acting as a preposition, it’s best to avoid ending a sentence with toward. This is because, traditionally, it’s bad grammatical form to end a sentence on a preposition. That said, if you are writing a formal document, essay, or paper, avoid ending a sentence on a preposition. However, if you are speaking informally or writing an informal note, email, or text, it’s okay to break this “rule.” Conversely, when toward is acting as an adjective, it can (and usually does) come at the end of a sentence.
Toward and towards can be used interchangeably as prepositions. But as an adjective, only toward (no ‘S’) is correct.
What Does Geared Towards Mean?
When someone uses the phrase “geared towards,” they mean something is intended for a particular purpose or audience. You can also say “geared toward.”
Sometimes English speakers say “geared to” instead of “geared toward,” but that’s usually not grammatically correct.
What are Some Synonyms for Toward?
Synonyms for toward include “approaching,” “proceeding,” “via,” “facing,” and “against.” There are also some phrases you can replace toward with, including:
- in the direction of
- in the vicinity
- not quite
- on the road to
- in relation to
- close to
- shortly before
These phrases aren’t always exact substitutes for toward or towards. It depends on how you use the preposition in your sentence.
How Do You Say Toward?
You can pronounce toward like tord, tawrd, or tuh-word. Some people also say tword.
There is not an ‘r’ sound in the first part of toward, but some people mispronounce the word as tor-word. You may also hear it pronounced like tow-word with a long ‘o,’ but this is incorrect.
Think of the word toured to help yourself remember how to say toward. Though spelled differently, both words have similar pronunciations.
Remember: either version is acceptable when you’re using the word as a preposition. Stick with toward when you need an adjective.
Quick Toward vs. Towards Grammar Quiz
Toward vs. Towards Question #1
A. Adjective
B. Verb
C. Preposition
D. Adverb
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is C. “Toward” is a preposition that means «in the direction of.» It can also indicate relation or purpose.
Toward or Towards Question #2
A. «Towards» is the preferred form in the U.S.
B. “Toward” and “towards” have the same meaning.
C. Both are not true.
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is A. “Toward” is the preferred form in the U.S.
Toward or Towards Question #3
A. A toward breeze helped the ship to shore.
B. A towards breeze helped the ship to shore.
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is A. When using toward as an adjective, don’t add an “s” at the end of the word.
Toward or Towards Question #4
A. Approaching
B. In the direction of
C. Away from
D. Close to
Correct!
Wrong!
The answer is C. «Away from» is the opposite of «toward.»
Read More: Grey Or Gray: One Color, Two Spellings
Do you move toward something or towards something? It turns out, you can do both, though some contexts favor one over the other.
Is toward or towards correct?
Both of the words were recorded before 900 and are derived from the Old English word toeward, which means “in the direction of.”
According to the Chicago Manual of Style, the preferred form in American English is toward without the -s, while the preferred British English form is towards with the -s. This general rule works with other directional words, including forward, backward, upward, and downward, along with afterward.
How do you use toward and towards?
Toward and towards are two interchangeable words. It’s unclear why the regional difference developed, as the words are used exactly the same:
- The boy ran toward the puppy. (American English)
- Some snow is expected towards the end of the week. (British English)
In fact, even within the UK and US, speakers are bound to interchange toward and towards—in spite of the style guides. What applies to formal written English does not always apply to informal settings, both written and spoken. American English speakers often use towards in colloquial speech and writing, and toward sometimes pops up in British English.
What other words get different treatment on opposite sides of the Atlantic? Check out this list of words with British and American spellings.
Interestingly, both terms toward and towards appeared around the same time. For example, Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in a time before English spelling was standardized. Despite being a British text, he uses toward without an -s, the accepted American English variant today.
As early as 1867, grammarians have debated the proper spelling of toward, with American writers rallying around toward without the -s. However, the reality is there exists no clear-cut rule that would dictate that spelling.
In this tutorial about To and Towards Confusing English Words for beginners, learners are going to learn the difference between the words “to” and “towards”. This tutorial about to and towards grammar comes with examples and correct usage to define its meaning.
Before we proceed, watch the video here.
https://youtu.be/c93tO7szcr0
The To and Towards Meaning
The word “to” is another common preposition of place. It is normally used with a verb showing movement and shows the result of the movement; the place or person that the movement was toward or in the direction of. The preposition toward has a similar meaning, but it’s not exactly the same: with toward, the direction of the movement is shown, but not the result.
Here are two examples of “to” and towards “correct” usage:
In these examples;
The words to and towards are prepositions to
describe movement.
Both sentences are
grammatically correct.
But there is a slight difference
in meaning.
In sentence 1: “Helen is
walking towards the market”. So, towards the market means that she’s walking in the
direction of the market.
When we use towards, we
are not describing the destination.
Maybe the destination is
the market but we are not certain because maybe Helen will stop before
the market or walk past the market.
We know only that Helen
is walking in the direction of the market.
We do not know the result of the movement.
Toward or towards, What is the correct usage?
Sometimes you will see the word “toward”. What is the difference between towards and toward?
The meaning of towards and toward is the same.
Now let’s look at the
word “to”: “Dan is walking to the market”.
“to” the market = the destination
is the market
When we use “to” we are describing the destination
of the movement and Dan’s exact direction is not important.
Only Dan’s final
destination is important and we are describing the result of the
movement.
Let’s look at the
example which shows both “to” and “towards”.
Helen is going to the market. So, her
final destination is the market but her journey will have two parts. And the
first part of the journey is;
1. Helen starts to walk
in the direction of the post office.
= Helen is going to the market. She is
walking towards the post office.
2. Helen then walks in
the of the market.
= Helen is going to the
market. She is also walking towards the post office.
So, that’s the difference between the words “to’ and “towards”, which are confusing English words that you need to learn for its very important.
Downloadable Materials
Download the Presentation used in this tutorial here.
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Do you walk toward or towards the good in life? The truth is, it doesn’t matter because you’ll arrive there one day. However, regional English varieties and different style manuals have different recommendations on toward vs. towards.
These two terms have been the bane of my author existence for years. My editor constantly makes notes about it. So I developed a way to remember the difference.
My guide will show you the difference between toward and towards in grammar. Learning when to use toward or towards will help you use the correct word based on your writing style.
Toward vs. Towards
Here’s the best and easiest ways I note the differences between the two very similar terms.
In grammar, both toward and towards are correct spellings for the preposition that means in the direction of. The only variance between the two words is that one has an s in the end, while the other doesn’t.
In casual writing, you can use either toward or towards as you please without committing a grammatical mistake. However, if you have a specific audience, you should follow a few guidelines. The same is true if you must follow a particular writing style.
Geography
As a basic rule, North American English uses toward, and all its surrounding areas use towards.
Toward is the preferred spelling in American and Canadian English. However, some American and Canadian writing pieces still use towards. I know, confusing, right?
In areas outside North America, such as the United Kingdom, towards is more prevalent. Remember that British English words usually use longer words. For instance, instead of color, British spelling uses colour.
Style Guide
The Chicago Manual of Style states that toward is better since it’s more common in American English. Keep in mind that the Chicago Manual of Style is American, so American writers shouldn’t follow the style guide for British English.
The AP Stylebook is another reference book that suggests toward. They compare the preposition to the word forward, which does not have an s in the end.
But The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook recognizes both variations. It considers both toward and towards as acceptable.
Is Towards the Plural of Toward?
Towards is not the plural form of toward because this word is not a noun. Only nouns can have plural forms, and toward is a preposition. Toward can also function as an adjective sometimes, which doesn’t have a singular or plural form.
What Kind of Preposition is Towards?
Towards is a preposition of direction. Preposition are parts of speech that show a connection between nouns, pronouns, and phrases in sentences. You’ll likely find prepositions at the end of the sentence but before a noun or pronoun.
Some prepositions show location, while others represent spatial relationships. Toward is a preposition of direction because it shows the direction in which something or someone travels. Other prepositions of direction include to, into, and from.
Is it Work Toward or Towards?
Both work toward and work towards are appropriate phrases. Toward with and without an s are interchangeable words with regional and style differences.
Toward vs. Towards MLA
MLA doesn’t have a specific guideline on using toward vs. towards.
Toward vs. Towards AP Style
The AP Stylebook recommends toward because it is the shorter spelling. According to its Twitter account, “We use forward and toward, not forwards and towards.”
How Do You Use Towards and Toward in a Sentence?
Here are some examples I whipped up to show toward and towards in a sentence.
- The snake crawled towards the dark.
- Her grandparents drove toward the place and found a vintage-style restaurant that reminded them of the fifties.
- I now lean toward the Rocks winning this game.
- I was not fond of your attitude towards me when I asked you something in front of Jonathan.
- Rota felt a lump in her throat as she continued towards the building.
- This project moves toward the use of renewable energy to minimize environmental destruction.
- I moved the wagon towards the yard.
So, Is Toward and Towards the Same?
In most cases, using toward or toward is not a huge grammar mistake. Both words have correct spellings and the same meaning: in the direction of. The only difference between them is the letter s in the end.
In formal writing, you should use toward if you’re writing to North American people or follow the AP Stylebook. Use towards if you write for a British audience.