Have you ever stopped while writing and wondered whether it should be “toward” or “towards”? You are not alone. Both forms appear in books, websites, emails, newspapers, and everyday conversations. The good news is that both are correct.
The difference is mainly based on regional English usage. American English generally prefers toward, while British English more often uses towards. The meaning does not normally change. For example, “She walked toward the door” and “She walked towards the door” mean the same thing.
This small difference can cause confusion for students, professionals, bloggers, and anyone writing for an international audience. Choosing the right form can make your writing sound more natural and consistent.
In this guide, we will explain the difference between toward or towards, where the words came from, how American and British English use them, common mistakes, everyday examples, and which form you should choose.
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Toward or Towards – Quick Answer
Toward and towards are both correct. They are prepositions with essentially the same meaning.
- Toward is more common in American English.
- Towards is more common in British English.
- Neither form is automatically wrong.
- The choice usually depends on regional preference and writing style.
Examples
American English:
She walked toward the station.
British English:
She walked towards the station.
Both sentences mean that she walked in the direction of the station.
The same applies to figurative uses:
- We are working toward a solution.
- We are working towards a solution.
- He has a positive attitude toward his colleagues.
- He has a positive attitude towards his colleagues.
There is normally no difference in meaning.
| Form | Main Usage | Correct? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toward | American English | Yes | In the direction of; in relation to |
| Towards | British English | Yes | In the direction of; in relation to |
The Origin of Toward or Towards
The words toward and towards have a long history in English.
“Toward” comes from Old English tōweard, meaning something like “in the direction of” or “facing.” The word combines tō, meaning “to,” with -weard, meaning “in the direction of.”
The form towards developed from the same word. The added -s became part of the prepositional form over time.
Both forms have existed for centuries. They are not modern inventions, and neither is a misspelling of the other.
Over time, English-speaking regions developed different preferences. American English increasingly favored toward, while British English strongly favored towards. Historical usage references confirm this regional difference.
This explains why you may see:
The car moved toward the city.
in American writing, but:
The car moved towards the city.
in British writing.
The words are different forms of the same preposition, not two words with completely different meanings.
British English vs American English Spelling
The biggest difference is regional preference.
American English generally favors toward, while British English generally favors towards. Cambridge confirms that both forms can be used and identifies the regional preference rather than treating one as incorrect.
Comparison Table
| Feature | American English | British English |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred form | Toward | Towards |
| Alternative | Towards | Toward |
| Meaning | Same | Same |
| Grammar | Correct | Correct |
| Example | Walk toward me. | Walk towards me. |
| Common formal style | Toward | Towards |
American English Examples
- The child ran toward his mother.
- We are moving toward our goal.
- The company is working toward a solution.
- His attitude toward the project changed.
British English Examples
- The child ran towards his mother.
- We are moving towards our goal.
- The company is working towards a solution.
- His attitude towards the project changed.
It is important not to turn this preference into a strict grammar rule. Toward is acceptable in British English, and towards is acceptable in American English. They are simply less typical in those varieties.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
The best choice depends on who will read your writing.
For American Readers
Use toward.
For example:
The company is moving toward a new business strategy.
This is the natural choice for most American business, academic, and general writing.
For British Readers
Use towards.
For example:
The company is moving towards a new business strategy.
This will generally sound more natural to British readers.
For Australian and Commonwealth English
Towards is commonly preferred in British-influenced varieties such as Australian English. Historical usage references also identify Australian usage with the British preference.
For International Audiences
Either form works. The most important thing is consistency.
If you choose toward, use it throughout the article. If you choose towards, keep that form throughout.
For SEO content, consistency can also help maintain a clear editorial style.
Common Mistakes with Toward or Towards
Because the two forms look almost identical, writers sometimes make unnecessary changes.
Mistake 1: Thinking “towards” Is Wrong
Incorrect assumption:
“Towards” is always incorrect.
Correction: Both toward and towards are standard English.
Mistake 2: Thinking “toward” Is Wrong in British English
Incorrect assumption:
British English must always use “towards.”
Correction: Towards is more common, but toward is still understood and accepted.
Mistake 3: Changing Forms Randomly
Avoid:
We are working toward a solution and moving towards our main goal.
There is nothing grammatically wrong with the sentence, but switching forms without a reason can make your style look inconsistent.
Better:
We are working toward a solution and moving toward our main goal.
Or:
We are working towards a solution and moving towards our main goal.
Mistake 4: Assuming the Words Have Different Meanings
There is generally no meaningful difference in meaning between the two forms.
Both can describe direction, attitude, progress, time, position, and contribution.
Toward or Towards in Everyday Examples
Both forms appear in many types of writing.
In Emails
American style:
We are working toward completing the project by Friday.
British style:
We are working towards completing the project by Friday.
In News Writing
American:
Officials are moving toward an agreement.
British:
Officials are moving towards an agreement.
In Social Media
American:
Walking toward a better future!
British:
Walking towards a better future!
In Formal Writing
American:
The research points toward a possible solution.
British:
The research points towards a possible solution.
Talking About Direction
- The dog ran toward the gate.
- The dog ran towards the gate.
Talking About Progress
- We are moving toward our goal.
- We are moving towards our goal.
Talking About Attitudes
- She has a positive attitude toward her work.
- She has a positive attitude towards her work.
Talking About Time
- Toward the end of the year, sales increased.
- Towards the end of the year, sales increased.
Cambridge identifies these uses as including direction, relationships or attitudes, position in time or place, and purpose or contribution.
Toward or Towards – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search interest for “toward or towards” reflects a common English-usage question, especially because writers encounter both forms online and in different varieties of English.
The broader usage pattern is clearer than a simple worldwide search-volume comparison:
- United States: “toward” is generally preferred.
- United Kingdom: “towards” is generally preferred.
- Canada: “toward” is commonly preferred.
- Australia: “towards” commonly follows British usage.
- International English: Both forms are widely understood.
Historical corpus evidence has found a strong regional split, with American writing favoring toward and British writing favoring towards.
Google Trends measures search interest, not necessarily how often a word appears in published writing. Therefore, search trends should not be treated as a direct measurement of grammatical correctness.
The safest conclusion is simple: regional usage matters more than correctness. Both forms remain standard.
Toward vs Towards: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Toward | Towards |
|---|---|---|
| Correct spelling | Yes | Yes |
| Part of speech | Preposition | Preposition |
| American English | More common | Less common |
| British English | Less common | More common |
| Canadian English | Common | Also used |
| Australian English | Used | More common |
| Meaning | Same | Same |
| Direction | Yes | Yes |
| Progress | Yes | Yes |
| Attitude | Yes | Yes |
| Time | Yes | Yes |
| Contribution | Yes | Yes |
| Formal writing | Yes | Yes |
| Informal writing | Yes | Yes |
FAQs About Toward or Towards
1. Is “toward” or “towards” correct?
Both are correct. Toward is more common in American English, while towards is more common in British English.
2. Is “towards” grammatically correct?
Yes. Towards is a standard English word, not a grammatical error.
3. Is “toward” correct in British English?
Yes. British English commonly uses towards, but toward is also acceptable.
4. Is “towards” correct in American English?
Yes. Americans generally prefer toward, but towards is still understood and accepted.
5. Should I write “working toward” or “working towards”?
Both are correct.
Use working toward for American English and working towards for British English.
6. Does “toward” mean something different from “towards”?
No. In normal usage, they have the same meaning and can usually be substituted for one another.
7. Which should I use in professional writing?
Match the form to your audience or organization’s style guide. Use toward for an American audience and towards for a British audience.
Conclusion
So, toward or towards—which one should you use? The answer is that both are correct. They are two accepted forms of the same preposition, and they usually have exactly the same meaning.
The main difference is regional preference. Toward is more common in American English, while towards is more common in British English and other varieties influenced by British usage.
If you are writing for an American audience, toward is usually the safest and most natural choice. If your readers are mainly British, towards will generally sound more familiar. For Australian or other Commonwealth audiences, towards is also often a natural choice.
Most importantly, do not treat one as universally correct and the other as a mistake. Both forms can describe movement, direction, progress, attitudes, time, and contributions.
For professional writing, the best rule is simple: choose the form that matches your audience, follow your preferred style guide, and use it consistently throughout your writing.
