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Toward or towards?

“Toward” or “Towards”? (Spelling, Differences & Examples)

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Toward and towards (with an ‘s’ at the end) are both correct spellings of the preposition that means “in the direction of somebody/something”.

It could also be taken abstractly, as in, “getting closer to achieving something”, or “closer to a point in time”; e.g., “towards the end of April“.

Toward vs. towards (UK vs. US English)

The spelling form of the past tense of ‘toward’ or ‘towards’ varies based on whether you’re using UK English or US English spelling conventions:

👍🏼Usage Note

Toward the end of the meeting, she made a powerful statement.

We walked towards the setting sun.

He moved towards the building, but then he changed his mind.

They were heading toward the shore when the storm broke.

  • UK English spells “towards” with an ‘s’ at the end.
  • US English spells “toward” without ‘s’.

Note: while US English prefers “toward” (with no ‘s’ at the end), towards is still acceptable. The same is also true for UK English and toward without the ‘s’. Style guides usually have a preference between the two spellings, so if. you’re unsure as to which to use in your case, it’s a good rule of practice to consult the guide that’s relevant to your writing purposes.

Other US English and UK English differences

Common spelling differences between UK and US English are apparent across many words and spelling patterns:

Words with -our/-or:

  • (UK spelling) colour, honour, flavour, humour, behavior
  • (US spelling) color, honor, flavor, humor, behavior.

Words ending in -er and -re:

  • (UK spelling) centre, metre, fibre, theatre.
  • (US spelling) center, meter, fiber, theater.

Words ending in -ce and -se:

  • (UK spelling) defence, offence, licence.
  • (US spelling) defense, offense, license.

Generally speaking, when it comes to verb forms, American or US English prefers the standard verb conjugation to the past tense, which uses “ed”.

UK English prefers an irregular verb form, and the older English writing form of verb conjugations, which uses “t” as a past tense and past participle.

UK spelling US spelling
learnt learned
smelt smelled
spelt spelled
burnt burned
leapt leaped

“Toward”/”towards”, used in sentences

The money will go towards/toward a new school building

He was warm and tender towards/toward her.

They were heading towards/toward the German border.

She had her back towards/toward me.

“Toward”/”towards”, examples from the media

But the real animus seems directed towards the language changing Dodd-Frank.

—Bachmann and Pelosi vs. Boehner and Obama Over Spending Bill.

I began walking right, towards my dorm, when I realized I needed to go to the hospital.

—Liz Seccurio

“People are surprised to find themselves in the street and see Doctor Who walking towards them,” he said.

—Doctor Who: It’s Time For a Black, Asian, or Woman Doctor, Nico Hines.

💡Study Tip

“toward” (US) and “towards” (UK), associate the “s” in “towards” with British English.

“Towards”, synonyms

  • against
  • almost
  • approaching
  • nearby/nearly
  • about
  • nearing

Origin of ‘toward’

From Etymonline on toward:

Old English toweard “in the direction of,” prepositional use of toweard (adj.) “coming, facing, approaching,” from to (see to) + -ward.

Learn more about US English vs. UK English

Sources

  1. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of toward.” Online Etymology Dictionary Accessed 9 March, 2024.
  2. Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, toward.

Work Sheet

Question 1 of 10

According to the blog post, which of the following statements about “toward” and “towards” is correct?



In which major variety of English is “toward” (without an ‘s’) typically preferred?



The blog post states that “toward” or “towards” can mean “in the direction of somebody/something”. Which of these is another meaning mentioned?



Based on the blog post’s examples of preferred usage, which sentence is typically considered correct in UK English?



According to the blog post, while one spelling may be preferred in US or UK English, is the *other* spelling ever acceptable?



The dog ran the door when he heard the bell. (Assuming US English preference)



We are working completing the project by the deadline. (Both spellings are correct, but one option is incorrect)



She started walking the town center. (Assuming UK English preference)



The conversation naturally drifted politics. (Both spellings are correct, but one option is incorrect)



The money will go a new school building. (Both spellings are correct; choose one of the two correct options provided based on the post’s examples)





Frequently Asked Questions

Are toward and towards both correct?
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Yes, both “toward” and “towards” are correct spellings for the preposition meaning “in the direction of.” They can also mean “getting closer to achieving something” or “closer to a point in time.”

Which spelling is used in US English?
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US English typically prefers “toward” without the ‘s’ at the end. For example, “Toward the end of the meeting, she made a powerful statement” is given as a correct US usage.

Which spelling is used in UK English?
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UK English generally prefers “towards” with an ‘s’. The post gives “We walked towards the setting sun” as a correct UK English usage example.

Is it always wrong to use toward/towards?
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While each variant has a preference (US prefers toward, UK prefers towards), the post notes that using the other form is generally still acceptable in both US and UK English. Style guides may.

How should I choose between them?
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Your choice often depends on the English variant (US or UK) you are using. If you are writing for a specific publication or context, it’s good practice to consult the relevant style guide for its.

Yash, D. "“Toward” or “Towards”? (Spelling, Differences & Examples)." Grammarflex, Jun 5, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/toward-or-towards-spelling-differences-examples/.

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