Toward or Towards: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: Both toward and towards are correct English prepositions. The choice depends entirely on your regional preference. American English prefers the shorter form without the s, while British English typically uses the longer version ending in s.
The Short Answer
Both forms are correct, but toward is more common in American English, whereas towards is standard in British English.
People confuse them because they sound identical and share the same meaning. Writers often switch between them when editing text from different regions, leading to inconsistent style in a single document.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| toward | Correct | Writing for a US audience or following American style guides. |
| towards | Correct | Writing for a UK audience or following British style guides. |
| Either | Acceptable | Writing for an international audience where regional preference matters less. |
| Preposition | Function | Showing direction, movement, or relationship between entities. |
Correct Example Sentences
- She walked toward the exit without looking back.
- He moved towards the window to check the weather.
- The team is working toward a major goal.
- She leaned towards him to share a secret.
- Please turn toward the stage during the speech.
- The wind blew towards the open door.
- We are moving toward a solution.
- The cat jumped towards the bird feeder.
- His thoughts drifted toward the upcoming holiday.
- She reached towards the shelf for a book.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- I am looking forward to move towards your house.
- I am looking forward to moving towards your house.
- The car drove toward of the station.
- The car drove toward the station.
- He threw the ball towards to the fence.
- He threw the ball towards the fence.
- We need to work toward improving our skills.
- We need to work toward improving our skills.
- She moved towards of the crowd.
- She moved towards the crowd.
- The path leads toward the mountain peak.
- The path leads toward the mountain peak.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Check the rest of your document for regional consistency. If you use other American spellings like color or center, stick with toward. If you use British spellings like colour or centre, use towards instead.
Related Word Pairs
- among or amongst
- Use among for general groups; amongst is a formal British variant.
- whilst or while
- While is standard in the US; whilst is preferred in the UK.
- affect or effect
- Use affect as a verb and effect as a noun in most cases.
- loose or lose
- Loose means not tight; lose means to misplace or fail to keep.
- their, there, or they're
- Their shows possession; there indicates place; they're is a contraction.
More Example Sentences
- The hikers made their way toward the summit despite the rain.
- She turned her chair towards the audience to listen better.
- The company is steering toward a more sustainable future.
- His gaze drifted towards the old photograph on the wall.
- We must move toward a consensus before the meeting ends.
- The boat drifted towards the rocky shore in the fog.
- Children often run toward the playground as soon as they arrive.
- He stretched his arm towards the high shelf to grab the box.
- The narrative shifts toward a darker tone in the final chapter.
- They walked toward the beach to watch the sunset.
Quick Practice
The train is heading the city center at high speed.
toward
She reached the cookie jar with a hopeful smile.
towards
We need to work a compromise that satisfies everyone.
toward
The leaves fell the ground in a gentle cascade.
towards
His thoughts drifted the memories of his childhood.
toward
The dog ran its owner when it heard the whistle.
towards
Frequently Asked Questions
Is toward or towards more formal?
Neither is inherently more formal. Both are standard prepositions. The choice depends on whether you are writing in American English or British English contexts.
Can I use both in the same document?
It is best to maintain consistency. Choose one form based on your target audience and stick with it throughout the entire document to avoid confusing readers.
Does toward imply movement faster than towards?
No, both words describe direction or movement at the same speed. The difference is purely orthographic and regional, not semantic or temporal in nature.
Which one should I use in academic writing?
Follow the specific style guide required by your institution. APA style prefers toward, while many British university guidelines recommend towards for consistency with local usage.
