Toward or Towards: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Toward or towards which one should you use, and is there actually a difference between them?

Toward American English, towards British English both are always correct.

You’re writing an email to a UK client, and autocorrect keeps flagging towards.

Is it wrong? It isn’t. You’ve just landed in one of English’s oldest spelling splits.

Toward and towards mean exactly the same thing. The only real difference is which side of the Atlantic you’re writing for.

Table of Contents

• Quick Answer
• Toward vs Towards: The Real Difference
• Toward or Towards by Region
• How to Spell Toward or Towards
• Toward or Towards in Common Phrases
• Comparison Table
• Memory Trick
• Example Sentences
• Common Mistakes
• When to Use Each Form
• Expert Tip
• Should I Say Toward or Towards?
• Where and When to Use Towards
• Does British English Use Toward or Towards?
• Toward or Towards Meaning
• How to Use Toward in a Sentence
• Toward or Towards With Verbs and Phrases
• Toward or Towards: Part of Speech, Grammar, and Word Origin
• Toward or Towards in AP Style and Legal Writing
• How to Spell Toward and Towards
• Toward or Towards Pronunciation
• Toward vs Forward
• Toward vs Towards in Other Languages: Quick Answers
• Quick Quiz
• FAQs
• Conclusion

Quick Answer Box

Toward and towards are both correct. Both mean in the direction of.

American English favors toward, no -s. British English favors towards, with -s.

Neither is grammatically wrong. Pick one and stay consistent.

Toward vs Towards: The Real Difference

There’s no rule of grammar here. Only a rule of style.

Research into large collections of American and British writing shows a clear pattern. British writers use towards slightly more than American writers use toward but the American preference for toward is much stronger and more consistent.

In plain terms: Americans strongly prefer toward. The British lean towards but split more evenly.

The Chicago Manual of Style confirms this pattern. It notes that toward is standard in American English, while towards dominates in British English. American publishers generally favor toward.

The AP Stylebook, used by most US newsrooms, follows the same preference so if you’re wondering about towards or toward AP style, the answer is toward.

This pattern extends to related direction words too. Forward/forwards, backward/backwards, upward/upwards, downward/downwards, and afterward/afterwards all follow it.

Writing in American English? Drop the -s across the whole word family. Writing in British English? Keep it.

Toward or Towards by Region

If what you’re asking is towards British or American, here’s the direct answer: towards is the standard British English spelling, while toward is the standard American English spelling.

This also answers toward us, towards us, and toward or towards Canada Canadian English tends to follow British convention more closely, so towards is common and accepted there too, though both forms are understood everywhere.

How to Spell Toward or Towards

Both spellings are correct; the only question is which regional form you’re writing for. Toward is spelled without an -s; towards adds the -s at the end.

This covers how you spell toward and how to spell towards.

Toward or Towards in Common Phrases

The same regional rule applies no matter what verb or phrase you pair it with. Whether you write drive toward or drive towards, moving toward or towards, walk toward or towards, walking toward or towards, walked toward or towards, work toward or work towards, work toward or towards, progress toward or towards, or geared towards or toward, the choice always comes down to American versus British style not correctness.

The same applies to is it toward you or towards you, direction towards, and towards the end or toward the end all correct in either form, and all follow the same regional pattern.

If you’re wondering when to use towards or when is it toward or towards, the short answer: use towards when writing for a British, Australian, or Canadian audience, and toward when writing for an American one.

Comparison Table

Feature	Toward	Towards
Region	American English	British English
Style guides favoring it	Chicago Manual of Style, AP Stylebook	Oxford English Dictionary
Formality	Standard in US formal/academic writing	Standard in UK formal/academic writing
Related word family	forward, backward, upward, downward	forwards, backwards, upwards, downwards
Grammatically wrong?	No	No

Memory Trick

Think: America avoids the extra letter.

American English drops the -s, keeping toward short. It’s the same instinct behind color vs colour and center vs centre.

Example Sentences

American English (toward):

She walked toward the exit.

The company is moving toward a new strategy.

He leaned toward the microphone.

We’re working toward a solution.

The donation goes toward tuition costs.

The car turned toward the highway.

Her attitude toward the project changed.

They ran toward the finish line.

British English (towards):

She walked towards the exit.

The company is moving towards a new strategy.

He leaned towards the microphone.

We’re working towards a solution.

The donation goes towards tuition costs.

The car turned towards the highway.

Her attitude towards the project changed.

They ran towards the finish line.

Common Mistakes

Mixing both spellings in one document. Pick a form based on your audience, then stick with it start to finish.

Assuming one spelling is more correct. Neither wins. This is a regional preference, not a correctness question.

Ignoring your style guide. Following Chicago or AP style? Use toward. Writing for a UK publication? Use towards.

When to Use Each Form

Writing for a US audience, following Chicago or AP style, or submitting American academic work? Use toward.

Writing for a UK, Australian, or Canadian audience, or following British conventions? Use towards.

Unsure of your audience? Pick one and stay consistent that matters more than which one you choose.

Expert Tip 💡

Writing for an international audience or a global brand? Check the style guide first.

Many international companies standardize on American English regardless of writer location, just for consistency across content.

Should I Say Toward or Towards?

Say whichever one matches your audience.

If your readers are American, say “toward.” If they’re British, say “towards.”

Do We Say Toward or Towards?

Both are said and written. In speech, the two sound almost identical, so the choice mainly matters in writing.

Use Toward or Towards?

If you’re unsure, “toward” is the safer global default, since American spelling is widely understood.

Whichever you choose, stay consistent throughout the document.

Is Toward or Towards Correct?

Both are correct. Neither is a mistake.

If you search “is towards correct” or “is toward or towards correct,” the answer is yes, both.

Which Is Correct: Toward or Towards?

It depends on your audience. Both are correct.

Where and When to Use Towards

Use “towards” wherever you’d use “toward,” in a British, Australian, or similar style.

Where to Use Towards?

Use “towards” as a preposition to show direction, goal, or attitude.

For example, “she walked towards the door” and “his attitude towards work.”

When to Use Towards

Use it when writing for a British or Commonwealth audience, or if your style guide prefers it.

When Is It Toward or Towards?

It’s “toward” in American style and “towards” in British style.

There’s no situation where one is wrong and the other is right.

Does British English Use Toward or Towards?

British English mostly uses “towards.”

It’s the standard British spelling, though “toward” is sometimes used too, especially informally.

Is Towards British or American?

“Towards” is the British form. “Toward” is the American form.

Toward or Towards in Canada

Canadian writing tends to follow British convention more closely, so “towards” is common.

Both forms are understood, so follow your publisher’s style guide.

Toward or Towards in Australia and Other Commonwealth Countries

Australian and other Commonwealth varieties generally lean toward “towards.”

“Toward” appears too, so stay consistent with your chosen style.

Toward or Towards UK

For a UK audience, use “towards.”

If you’re writing for a UK client and autocorrect flags it, your spell checker is probably set to American English.

Toward or Towards Meaning

Both words mean the same thing. Here are the main meanings.

• In the direction of: she walked toward the exit.
• Regarding or in relation to: his attitude toward the project.
• For the purpose of: the donation goes toward tuition costs.
• Near in time: it grew cooler toward evening.

Toward vs Towards Meaning

There’s no difference in meaning. Only the regional spelling differs.

Toward You or Towards You Meaning

The “Toward you” and “towards you” both mean in your direction, or in relation to you.

Toward Us and Towards Us

The “Toward us” and “towards us” both mean in our direction.

Toward or Towards Me

Both work: “she turned toward me” and “she turned towards me.”

How to Use Toward in a Sentence

“Toward” is a preposition, so it comes before a noun or pronoun.

• He ran toward the finish line.
• They moved toward a decision.
• Her feelings toward him softened.
• The path leads toward the river.
• We’re saving toward a new car.

How to Use Toward and Towards

Treat them the same. Just choose one form and use it throughout.

Toward or Towards Examples

• Prices are moving toward last year’s level.
• The team is working towards a shared goal.
• She felt kindly toward her neighbors.
• The ship sailed towards the harbour.

Toward or Towards With Verbs and Phrases

The regional choice applies to all common phrases.

Phrase	American	British
walk / walking / walked	toward	towards
work / working	toward	towards
progress	toward	towards
geared	toward	towards
take a step	toward	towards
put it	toward	towards
looking / going / moving	toward	towards
towards the end	toward the end	towards the end

Take the First Step Toward or Towards

Both are correct. “Take the first step toward success” is American; “towards” is British.

Geared Toward or Towards

Both are correct. “Geared toward beginners” and “geared towards beginners.”

Direction Towards

“Direction toward” and “direction towards” both mean the direction of something.

Toward or Towards Which

“The goal toward which we work” and “the goal towards which we work” are both correct.

Toward or Towards: Part of Speech, Grammar, and Word Origin

“Toward” and “towards” are prepositions.

Is There a Grammar Rule?

No. The difference is historical and regional, not grammatical.

Word Origin

Both come from Old English, built from “to” and a “-ward” ending meaning “in the direction of.”

The “-s” in “towards” is an old adverbial ending.

Is “Toward” Prefixed?

Not exactly. People sometimes ask what the prefix for “toward” is, but “-ward” is a suffix (an ending), as in “upward” and “homeward.”

Toward or Towards in AP Style and Legal Writing

Different style guides handle this differently.

Toward or Towards AP Style

AP Style uses “toward,” with no “s.”

The same goes for the Chicago Manual of Style.

Toward or Towards in Legal Writing

There isn’t a special rule for legal writing.

Follow the style guide of your court, firm, or jurisdiction. US legal writing usually uses “toward,” and UK drafting often uses “towards.”

How to Spell Toward and Towards

Here’s how each word is spelled.

• Toward: T-O-W-A-R-D
• Towards: T-O-W-A-R-D-S

Common Misspellings

Typing quickly leads to slips. None of these are correct.

• Twords, torward, toword
• Towrd, towrds, towads, tords

If you searched “towards or torward,” the correct spellings are “toward” or “towards.”

Spell the Word Toward

It’s spelled T-O-W-A-R-D, with the letters “to” and “ward” together.

Toward or Towards Pronunciation

“Toward” is usually pronounced “tuh-WORD,” or sometimes “tord.”

Some speakers say “TOH-erd,” especially in American English.

“Towards” adds a “z” sound at the end: “tuh-WORDZ.”

Toward vs Forward

The “Toward” and “forward” are different words.

“Toward” shows direction. “Forward” means ahead.

Towards and Forward

You can use them together: “move forward toward your goal.”

The same “-s” rule applies to “forward” and “forwards” in the same way.

Toward vs Towards in Other Languages: Quick Answers

Many readers search this in their own language.

• Vietnamese: “Toward” và “towards” đều đúng. “Toward” thường dùng trong tiếng Anh Mỹ, “towards” trong tiếng Anh Anh.
• Uzbek: “Toward” va “towards” ikkalasi ham to’g’ri. Toward Amerika ingliz tilida, towards Britaniya ingliz tilida ko’proq ishlatiladi.
• Roman Urdu: “Toward” aur “towards” dono sahi hain. Farq sirf American aur British spelling ka hai.

Engagement Add-On: Quick Quiz

True or False: Towards is grammatically incorrect. Answer: False. Both spellings are correct.

Which style guide favors toward without the -s? a) Oxford English Dictionary b) Chicago Manual of Style c) Cambridge Dictionary Answer: b) Chicago Manual of Style

FAQs

Is toward or towards correct?

Both are correct. Toward standard American English. Towards standard British English.

What is the difference between toward and towards?

There’s no difference in meaning, only in regional spelling. Toward drops the -s and is standard in American English, while towards keeps the -s and is standard in British English.

Can I use towards in American writing?

Yes, it won’t be marked wrong. It’s just less common and inconsistent with US style guides.

Does the same rule apply to forward and forwards?

Yes. American English generally drops the -s. British English keeps it.

Which is more formal, toward or towards?

Neither. Formality depends on context, not the -s.

Do UK writers ever use toward?

Occasionally, especially informally. But towards the standard British form.

Is there a grammar rule explaining the difference?

No. It’s historical and regional, not grammatical.

Should I stay consistent within one document?

Always. Mixing both forms in the same piece looks inconsistent.

Which one does Merriam-Webster list as the main entry?

Toward, treated as the primary American English form. Towards is listed as an accepted variant.

Is towards or toward the correct AP Style choice?

AP Style, like Chicago Manual of Style, favors toward without the -s.

Is it toward you or towards you?

Both are correct; toward you fits American English, and towards you fits British English.

People Also Ask

Should I say toward or towards?

Say whichever matches your audience: “toward” for American readers and “towards” for British readers.

Where to use towards?

Use it as a preposition to show direction, goal, or attitude, especially in British or Commonwealth writing.

Does British English use toward or towards?

Mostly “towards,” though “toward” is sometimes used too.

How do you use toward in a sentence?

Put it before a noun or pronoun: “she walked toward the door.”

People Also Search For

Toward or towards meaning

Both mean in the direction of, or in relation to.

Toward meaning

The “Toward” means in the direction of, regarding, or for the purpose of.

Toward or towards me

Both are correct: “toward me” or “towards me.”

Toward or towards pronunciation

The “Toward” is usually “tuh-WORD,” and “towards” ends with a “z” sound.

Toward or towards UK

Use “towards” for a UK audience.

Toward or towards examples

“She walked toward the exit” and “she walked towards the exit.”

Toward or towards AP style

AP Style uses “toward.”

Toward or towards legal writing

There’s no special rule. Follow your style guide or jurisdiction.

More Questions About Toward and Towards

How do you spell toward?

T-O-W-A-R-D.

How do you spell towards?

T-O-W-A-R-D-S.

Is towards British or American?

British. “Toward” is American.

Is toward or towards correct in Canada?

Both are understood. “Towards” is common in Canada, but follow your style guide.

Is it work toward or work towards?

Both are correct, depending on your audience.

Is it geared toward or towards?

Both are correct.

Is it “toward you” or “towards you”?

Both are correct.

Is it “towards the end” or “toward the end”?

Both are correct.

Is “towards” a preposition?

Yes.

Is there a grammar rule for toward vs towards?

No. It’s a regional and historical choice.

Is “twords” a word?

No. It’s a misspelling of “towards.”

Toward ya towards, kaunsa sahi hai?

Dono sahi hain. Toward American English mein aur towards British English mein zyada istemal hota hai.

Conclusion

Toward and towards mean the same thing. The choice comes down to region, not correctness.

Use toward American English, towards British English, and stay consistent within whatever you’re writing.