Toward vs Towards

Quick Answer

The fastest way to know which spelling to use.

The difference between toward and towards comes down entirely to geography.

If you are writing for an audience in the United States, the preferred spelling is toward (without an 's'). If you are writing for an audience in the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand, the preferred spelling is towards (with an 's').

Both words refer to the exact same thing: moving in the direction of something. Neither spelling is grammatically incorrect, but using the wrong one for your target region can look out of place.

Toward vs Towards at a Glance

A side-by-side breakdown of the key differences.

Feature	Airplane (US)	Aeroplane (UK)
Standard Region	United States	United Kingdom
Spelling	T-O-W-A-R-D	T-O-W-A-R-D-S
Syllable Count	2 (to-WARD)	2 (to-WARDS)
Part of Speech	Preposition	Preposition
Meaning	In the direction of	In the direction of

American English: Toward

How the word is used in the United States.

In the United States, "toward" is the universally accepted spelling. It is used as a preposition meaning 'in the direction of.' American style guides favor dropping the 's' for a streamlined, phonetic approach.

Grammatical Standard

American style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook prefer 'toward' without the 's' entirely.

Media and Publishing

Major publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal use the 'toward' spelling exclusively.

British English: Towards

How the word is used in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom, "towards" is the traditional and standard spelling. British English retains the 's' for directional prepositions, which is a natural grammatical rule for Britons.

Prepositional Standard

British English uses 'towards' for direction, as in 'the path led towards the sea,' reserving 'toward' for very rare, specific archaic contexts.

Modern Usage

Though 'to' is common in casual speech, formal British writing relies on 'towards' rather than the American simplification.

What Do Both Words Mean?

The definition remains exactly the same.

Despite the spelling difference, both "toward" and "towards" mean exactly the same thing. They refer to moving or facing in the direction of a particular person or thing.

Core Definition

In the direction of; approaching.

Metaphorical Use

Both words are also used to describe an attitude or feelings about something, such as 'his attitude towards the policy'.

American English Usage

How Americans naturally use the word today.

In the US, "toward" is used in almost every context, from casual conversation to technical writing. It serves as a preposition modifying verbs and nouns seamlessly.

Casual Conversation

"He walked toward the door to leave the party."

Technical Writing

"The company is working toward a sustainable future."

Science Context

"The planet's orbit moves toward the sun."

Entertainment Industry

"The camera panned toward the actor's face."

British English Usage

How Britons naturally use the word today.

In the UK, "towards" holds its ground as the primary preposition. The 's' ending is a natural grammatical rule for Britons.

Literature and Media

"The boat sailed towards the horizon as the sun set."

Everyday Conversation

"We are moving towards a more digital society."

Hobbyist Contexts

"The cyclist pedalled towards the finishing line."

News and Journalism

"The government is shifting its policy towards green energy."

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Deciding based on your audience.

The decision is entirely context-driven. If you are writing an email to an American colleague, use "toward." If you are writing a postcard from London to your friends back in Britain, use "towards."

Choose "Toward" if:

You are writing for a US-based publisher, studying at an American school, or creating content primarily for an American audience.

Choose "Towards" if:

You are submitting to a UK journal, writing for a British audience, or following Commonwealth English standards.

Formal and Professional Writing

What to do in business and academic contexts.

In highly formal writing, it is best to adhere strictly to the regional standard. Both forms are correct, but consistency in grammar and spelling is paramount in professional contexts.

Business Contracts

International corporate documents should define their style guide, usually selecting either US or UK English for directional prepositions.

Academic Research

Scientific papers will typically use 'toward' in US journals and 'towards' in UK journals, especially when describing physical motion or data trends.

Pronunciation

The spelling change does not affect how the word is spoken.

The spelling difference doesn't change the spoken word; the 's' at the end is pronounced softly without adding a syllable.

Word	IPA	Syllables
Airplane (US)	/təˈwɔːrd/	2 (to-WARD)
Aeroplane (UK)	/təˈwɔːdz/	2 (to-WARDS)

Because the British version simply adds an 's', the pronunciation remains structurally identical, ending with a voiced 'z' sound.

Spelling Difference

A visual breakdown of the letters.

The core difference is the presence of the letter "s" at the end of the word.

Toward

Towards

The American version stops at "toward." The British version adds the "s" to mark the preposition, which is the standard rule for British English.

Why Are the Spellings Different?

The history behind the transatlantic split.

1. Old English Roots

The word originates from the Old English 'toweard', combining 'to' with '-weard' (meaning 'directed toward').

2. The Adverbial 'S'

In Middle English, adding an 's' to directional words (like towards, upwards) was a common way to form prepositions and adverbs. British English largely retained this 's'.

3. Noah Webster's Reform

In the early 1800s, Noah Webster reformed American spelling. He preferred dropping the adverbial 's' where the meaning was already clear, leading to the American preference for 'toward' without the 's'.

Synonyms, Antonyms & Rhyming Words

Words related to, opposite of, and sounding like toward/towards.

Synonyms (Similar Meaning)

Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)

Rhyming Words (Sound Matches)

Learn More Rhyming Words

Example Sentences

See how both words function in original sentences.

Here are 30 original sentences using the American spelling, "toward."

He walked toward the door.
She leaned toward him to hear the secret.
The car drove toward the city.
We are moving toward a solution.
The cat crept toward the mouse.
He pointed toward the mountain.
She felt hostility toward the new manager.
The boat sailed toward the island.
The weather is getting warmer toward the coast.
They marched toward the capital.
The plane flew toward the sunset.
He threw the ball toward the catcher.
She turned toward the sound.
The dog ran toward the park.
The company is working toward a merger.
He looked toward the future.
The road leads toward the beach.
She smiled toward the camera.
The wind blew toward the shore.
He took a step toward the edge.
The conversation shifted toward politics.
The kids ran toward the ice cream truck.
She walked toward the light.
He drove toward the mountains.
The bird flew toward the nest.
They are progressing toward a deal.
She pointed toward the exit.
The river flows toward the sea.
He felt a lot of anger toward the driver.
The army advanced toward the enemy.

Here are 30 original sentences using the British spelling, "towards."

He walked towards the door.
She leaned towards him to hear the secret.
The car drove towards the city.
We are moving towards a solution.
The cat crept towards the mouse.
He pointed towards the mountain.
She felt hostility towards the new manager.
The boat sailed towards the island.
The weather is getting warmer towards the coast.
They marched towards the capital.
The plane flew towards the sunset.
He threw the ball towards the wicket-keeper.
She turned towards the sound.
The dog ran towards the park.
The company is working towards a merger.
He looked towards the future.
The road leads towards the beach.
She smiled towards the camera.
The wind blew towards the shore.
He took a step towards the edge.
The conversation shifted towards politics.
The kids ran towards the ice cream van.
She walked towards the light.
He drove towards the mountains.
The bird flew towards the nest.
They are progressing towards a deal.
She pointed towards the exit.
The river flows towards the sea.
He felt a lot of anger towards the driver.
The army advanced towards the enemy.

Toward in US English

Specific contexts, industry standards, and cultural data for the American spelling.

In the United States, "toward" is the universally preferred spelling. It functions as a preposition. American style guides, including the Associated Press Stylebook, favor dropping the 's' to create a more streamlined word.

Navigation & Travel

American driving manuals and travel guides use 'toward' when giving directions, such as 'drive toward the city center.'

Business & Economy

The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg use 'toward' when describing corporate progress, such as 'working toward a merger' or 'moving toward a solution.'

Sports & Motion

American sports journalists use 'toward' to describe physical movement, such as a basketball player 'passing the ball toward the hoop.'

Common American Phrases

• Heading toward: Moving in a direction.
• Attitude toward: Feelings about something.
• Step toward: A progressive action.
• Toward the future: Looking ahead.

Towards in UK English

Specific contexts, industry standards, and cultural data for the British spelling.

In the UK, "towards" is the traditional spelling. The 's' ending is a core grammatical rule in British English for directional prepositions. It is used identically across navigation, business, and sports.

Navigation & Travel

The UK Highway Code and British travel guides use 'towards' when giving directions, such as 'drive towards the roundabout.'

Business & Economy

The Financial Times and BBC Business use 'towards' when describing market data or corporate progress, such as 'moving towards a greener economy.'

Sports & Motion

British sports broadcasters use 'towards' to describe the motion of players and balls, such as a cricketer 'running towards the wicket.'

Common British Phrases

• Heading towards: Moving in a direction.
• Attitude towards: Feelings about something.
• Step towards: A progressive action.
• Towards the end: Approaching a conclusion.

Related Directional Vocabulary

Other words that differ in spatial descriptions.

US English	UK English	Meaning
Downward	Downwards	Moving to a lower position.
Upward	Upwards	Moving to a higher position.
Forward	Forwards	Moving ahead.
Backward	Backwards	Moving in reverse.

Other US–UK Directional Differences

More words that change when you cross the pond.

Upward vs. Upwards

Americans prefer 'upward' while Britons prefer 'upwards' as an adverb.

Downward vs. Downwards

Americans use 'downward' for both roles, while Britons use 'downwards' as an adverb.

Forward vs. Forwards

The US uses 'forward', while the UK often uses 'forwards' for adverbs.

Backward vs. Backwards

Americans prefer 'backward', while Britons use 'backwards' for motion.

Common Mistakes

Frequent errors writers make with these spellings.

Mixing spellings within the same document.

✓ Pick one regional standard and stick to it.

Why: Writing 'He walked toward the door, but the dog ran towards the park' confuses the reader and breaks the consistency of your text.

Using "towards" in an American academic paper.

✓ Use "toward" for US-based journals and schools.

Why: American professors and publishers expect standard American English. Using the British spelling looks like a typo in this context.

Hyphenating the word ("to-ward").

✓ Always use a single, unhyphenated word.

Why: Modern English treats both 'toward' and 'towards' as solid compound words without hyphens.

Using "toward" for a British children's book.

✓ Use "towards" for UK audiences.

Why: British publishers strictly enforce regional spelling standards, especially in educational materials for kids.

Adding an extra syllable when pronouncing "towards".

✓ Pronounce it with two syllables.

Why: The 's' does not add a syllable; it is pronounced as a voiced 'z' at the end of the word.

Assuming "towards" is a typo.

✓ Recognize it as the current, active British spelling.

Why: Some Americans assume it's incorrect, but it is entirely modern and standard in the UK today.

Confusing 'toward' with 'to'.

✓ Keep them distinct.

Why: 'Toward' refers to a direction, while 'to' is a preposition indicating destination. They serve different grammatical functions.

Forgetting that Canada usually aligns with the US.

✓ Use "toward" for Canadian audiences.

Why: Despite being in the Commonwealth, Canadian English heavily favors American spellings for directional prepositions.

Confusing the preposition with the verb.

✓ Keep "toward/towards" (preposition) clear.

Why: A 'toward' is a preposition. It is not a verb. This is true in both US and UK English.

Using the wrong suffix rule in the UK.

✓ Remember that the UK uses the 's' suffix.

Why: British English retained the adverbial 's' for directional prepositions, leading to the adoption of 'towards'.

Writing for an International Audience

How to handle the split when writing globally.

If you are writing a blog, book, or manual for a global audience, you must pick a primary English standard. Most international organizations choose either US or UK English as their default and stick to it.

Pro Tip: Because American media dominates globally, many ESL learners are more familiar with "toward." However, if your organization is based in Europe or the Commonwealth, "towards" is the expected standard.

Memory Tip

An easy way to remember which spelling belongs to which country.

If you struggle to remember the difference, use this simple association trick:

America = Toward

United Kingdom = Towards

Notice the extra 's' in 'Towards'. The United Kingdom tends to add an extra 's' to their directional prepositions (towards, backwards, upwards). America drops the 's' for simplicity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions.

Are 'toward' and 'towards' pronounced the same way?

They are pronounced almost identically, except the British version adds a soft 'z' sound at the end. 'Toward' is two syllables (to-WARD), and 'towards' is two syllables (to-WARDS).

Why does America use 'toward' instead of 'towards'?

In the early 19th century, Noah Webster sought to simplify American spelling. Dropping the adverbial 's' in words like 'toward', 'upward', and 'backward' was part of this movement to streamline the language.

Is 'towards' ever used in the United States?

It is very rare in modern American English. 'Toward' is the undisputed standard for prepositions in the US today, though some older Americans might still use 'towards'.

What about Canada and Australia? Which spelling do they use?

Canada generally follows the American spelling ('toward'). Australia and New Zealand follow British English and use 'towards'.

Is 'to' an acceptable abbreviation for both words?

While 'to' conveys a similar destination, it is a separate preposition rather than a direct abbreviation. Both 'toward' and 'towards' specifically mean 'in the direction of.'

Which spelling is older, 'toward' or 'towards'?

'Toward' is the older spelling, originating from Old English 'toweard'. The adverbial 's' was added later in Middle English, which British English retained.

Should I use 'toward' or 'towards' in academic writing?

You should match the spelling to the regional standard of your audience or publisher. American journals use 'toward'. UK journals use 'towards'.

Does the rule apply to other directional words as well?

Yes. The same rule applies to other words. Americans write 'upward', 'downward', and 'forward', while Britons write 'upwards', 'downwards', and 'forwards'.

Are there other words that follow this pattern?

Yes, many directional words follow this split, such as upward/upwards, downward/downwards, forward/forwards, and backward/backwards.

Which word is more commonly used globally today?

Because of the dominance of American media and technology, 'toward' is recognized globally. However, 'towards' remains the correct standard spelling in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.