Toward or towards is a common English spelling and usage question that can confuse even experienced writers. Both forms are correct, but their use can vary depending on American English, British English, writing style, and regional preference. If you’ve wondered whether you should write “toward” or “towards,” the answer depends largely on the variety of English you’re using.
The toward or towards difference is mainly a matter of regional and stylistic preference rather than meaning. Toward and towards generally have the same meaning and can both describe movement, direction, attitude, or a developing situation. In American English, “toward” is generally more common, while “towards” is more common in British English. However, both forms can be found in different varieties of English.
In this guide, you’ll learn whether to use “toward” or “towards,” what each word means, how they differ in American and British English, and when each form sounds most natural. You’ll also see clear examples of toward vs. towards in sentences so you can choose the right form with confidence.
By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use “toward” and “towards” and how to use both forms naturally and correctly in your writing.
Quick Answer: Toward or Towards?
Toward and towards are both correct.
The main distinction is regional:
| Form | Common preference | Example |
| toward | American English | She walked toward the station. |
| towards | British English | She walked towards the station. |
Both forms can describe:
- Movement in a direction
- Progress toward a goal
- A position near a particular time or place
- An attitude or relationship
- A contribution toward a purpose or expense
So, if you’re writing in US English, use toward as your normal choice. If you’re writing in UK English, towards is generally the more natural choice.
Most importantly, don’t treat the difference as a battle between “correct” and “incorrect.” Both belong in standard English.
Toward vs. Towards: The Main Difference
The easiest way to understand toward vs. towards is to separate meaning from usage preference.
The meaning is essentially the same. The usage preference varies by region.
Consider these pairs:
- He walked toward the building.
- He walked towards the building.
- We’re working toward a solution.
- We’re working towards a solution.
- Her attitude toward him changed.
- Her attitude towards him changed.
Nothing important changes in meaning.
The practical rule
If you’re writing for an American audience:
Prefer toward.
If you’re writing for a British audience:
Prefer towards.
If you’re writing for an international audience, either works. Consistency matters more than choosing one as universally correct.
What Does Toward Mean?
Toward is a preposition with several related meanings. Its most familiar use describes movement in the direction of something.
For example:
The dog ran toward the gate.
The sentence doesn’t necessarily say that the dog reached the gate. It simply tells you the direction of movement.
You can also use toward for abstract movement:
The company is moving toward a more sustainable business model.
Here, nobody is physically walking anywhere. Toward describes progress in the direction of an intended result.
Cambridge gives similar uses for toward, including movement, relation, position, and purpose. Cambridge Dictionary
Toward as a preposition
Common structures include:
verb + toward + noun
- walk toward the door
- move toward the exit
- turn toward the window
- drive toward the city
noun + toward + noun
- attitude toward change
- approach toward education
- contribution toward the project
adjective + toward + noun
- kind toward others
- hostile toward competitors
- respectful toward employees
The word therefore works well in both physical and abstract contexts.
Examples of toward
- She took a step toward the window.
- The children ran toward their parents.
- We’re moving toward a solution.
- His attitude toward his coworkers improved.
- The money will go toward repairs.
- The deadline is getting closer toward the end of the month.
What Does Towards Mean?
Towards has the same basic meanings as toward.
It can describe physical direction:
The hikers walked towards the mountain.
It can describe progress:
The team is working towards its goal.
It can describe an attitude:
She has always been kind towards animals.
And it can refer to a point in time:
Towards the end of the afternoon, the weather changed.
Oxford lists towards as a preposition meaning “in the direction of,” “getting closer to achieving something,” “close or closer to a point in time,” “in relation to,” and “with the aim of obtaining something.” Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
Examples of towards
- He moved towards the door.
- The train was traveling towards London.
- We’re working towards a final agreement.
- She has a positive attitude towards learning.
- Towards the end of the meeting, everyone became more relaxed.
- The donation will go towards building a new library.
Again, the -s doesn’t create a different meaning.
Toward or Towards in American English
American English generally favors toward without the final s.
For example:
- Walk toward the exit.
- We’re working toward a solution.
- Her attitude toward the issue has changed.
- The company is moving toward profitability.
- He looked toward the sky.
Cambridge labels toward as mainly US and lists towards as the mainly UK alternative. Its American dictionary also recognizes towards as an alternative form. Cambridge Dictionary
That distinction makes toward the safest choice for US-focused content, business writing, American academic work, and websites written in American English.
Is “towards” wrong in American English?
No.
American English speakers understand and use towards. The form isn’t inherently ungrammatical.
However, toward is more characteristic of American usage. If you’re deliberately following US English conventions, sticking with toward will usually make your writing feel more consistent.
That’s a preference issue rather than a correctness issue.
Toward or Towards in British English
British English generally favors towards.
For example:
- She walked towards the station.
- We’re working towards an agreement.
- He turned towards the window.
- They moved towards the coast.
- His attitude towards the proposal was positive.
Cambridge’s British grammar guidance says both forms can be used but notes that towards is much more common in British usage.
That doesn’t make toward wrong in British English.
You may still encounter it, particularly in certain publications, styles, or expressions. The important point is that towards is the usual British preference.
Is Toward or Towards More Correct?
Neither one wins the grammar trophy.
Toward and towards are both correct.
The difference primarily concerns regional usage and editorial preference.
| Question | Answer |
| Is toward correct? | Yes |
| Is towards correct? | Yes |
| Do they normally have different meanings? | No |
| Is toward more common in American English? | Yes |
| Is towards more common in British English? | Yes |
| Can Americans use towards? | Yes |
| Can British writers use toward? | Yes |
| Should you stay consistent? | Yes |
Scribbr likewise identifies both as interchangeable forms while noting the US preference for toward and UK preference for towards. Scribbr
So don’t “correct” towards merely because you’re accustomed to American English.
Likewise, don’t mark toward as an error just because British English normally favors towards.
Toward vs. Towards in a Sentence
The simplest way to see the difference is to put both forms side by side.
Movement and direction
- The child ran toward his mother.
- The child ran towards his mother.
- The car was heading toward the highway.
- The car was heading towards the highway.
Both pairs communicate the same idea.
Progress
- We’re working toward a solution.
- We’re working towards a solution.
- The company is moving toward its long-term goals.
- The company is moving towards its long-term goals.
Here, the direction is figurative rather than physical.
Attitude
- She has a positive attitude toward her coworkers.
- She has a positive attitude towards her coworkers.
Time
- Toward the end of the year, sales increased.
- Towards the end of the year, sales increased.
Contribution
- The donation will go toward the renovation.
- The donation will go towards the renovation.
Common Uses of Toward and Towards
Although direction is the most obvious meaning, these words do much more than tell you where someone is walking.
Movement and Direction
This is the most familiar use.
The hikers walked toward the river.
Here, toward identifies the direction of movement.
The same sentence works with towards:
The hikers walked towards the river.
Progress or Change
You can also use these words for movement toward an abstract goal.
The negotiations are moving toward an agreement.
Nobody is physically moving toward an agreement. The phrase describes progress.
Other examples include:
- move toward peace
- work toward a solution
- progress toward independence
- move toward a new system
- shift toward renewable energy
Time
Toward and towards can indicate a period approaching a particular point in time.
For example:
Toward the end of the semester, students became busier.
You can also write:
- toward the end of the day
- toward midnight
- toward the beginning of winter
- towards the end of the year
- towards late afternoon
Attitudes and Relationships
These words can describe how someone feels or behaves in relation to another person or thing.
For example:
He was respectful toward his colleagues.
Or:
She was extremely patient towards the children.
Goals and Results
Toward can also identify something that contributes to a desired outcome.
Every donation goes toward helping local families.
You can use the same construction with towards:
Every donation goes towards helping local families.
This meaning appears frequently in discussions of money, effort, education, and charitable contributions.
Toward vs. Towards: Common Phrases
Some expressions appear constantly in everyday and professional English.
| Toward | Towards |
| work toward a goal | work towards a goal |
| move toward a solution | move towards a solution |
| walk toward the door | walk towards the door |
| look toward the future | look towards the future |
| turn toward someone | turn towards someone |
| progress toward a goal | progress towards a goal |
| move toward the end | move towards the end |
| toward the end of the year | towards the end of the year |
| contribution toward costs | contribution towards costs |
| attitude toward change | attitude towards change |
The expressions aren’t different because of the spelling. The regional preference changes the form, not the underlying phrase.
Working Toward or Working Towards?
This phrase deserves special attention because it’s extremely common.
Both are correct:
We are working toward a solution.
We are working towards a solution.
The meaning is trying to achieve something.
For American English, working toward is the natural default.
For British English, working towards is generally more common.
More examples
American English:
- The researchers are working toward a breakthrough.
- We’re working toward completing the project.
- The students are working toward their degrees.
British English:
- The researchers are working towards a breakthrough.
- We’re working towards completing the project.
- The students are working towards their degrees.
Neither version changes the intended meaning.
Toward or Towards in Formal Writing
Formal writing doesn’t make one spelling universally correct.
Instead, follow the variety of English and the style guide you’re using.
American formal writing
For US English, toward is generally the better choice.
Examples:
- The study contributes toward a better understanding of the issue.
- The policy is moving toward implementation.
- The organization is working toward its strategic objectives.
British formal writing
For UK English, towards is generally the more natural choice.
Examples:
- The study contributes towards a better understanding of the issue.
- The policy is moving towards implementation.
- The organization is working towards its strategic objectives.
The important rule
Don’t switch randomly.
A document that repeatedly alternates between toward and towards can look inconsistent even though both forms are correct.
For professional writing, consistency creates a cleaner impression.
Toward vs. Towards in Academic Writing
Academic writers should usually follow the required regional and institutional style.
If you’re writing an American research paper, toward is generally the safer choice.
If you’re writing according to British conventions, towards will usually fit better.
However, a university or publisher may have its own style guide. When a style guide explicitly specifies a form, follow the guide rather than relying on a general US-versus-UK rule.
This matters particularly when you’re editing a long paper. A single occurrence of towards in an otherwise American English document isn’t a grammatical disaster. But applying one consistent style across hundreds of pages makes the work look more carefully edited.
Toward vs. Towards: Common Mistakes
Most mistakes with these words come from treating a regional preference as a grammar rule.
Mistake: Calling “towards” incorrect
❌ Towards is wrong because American English uses toward.
That’s not accurate.
Towards is a standard English form. It’s simply more common in British English and some other varieties.
Mistake: Calling “toward” British English incorrect
The opposite claim is also wrong.
British English can use toward. It’s just less common than towards in many British contexts.
Mistake: Assuming the words have different meanings
Some writers believe the final s changes the meaning.
It generally doesn’t.
Compare:
The bird flew toward the tree.
The bird flew towards the tree.
The direction remains the same.
Mistake: Mixing forms without a reason
A document might contain:
The company is working toward growth.
and two paragraphs later:
The team is working towards expansion.
Neither sentence is wrong. The inconsistency, however, may look accidental.
Toward vs. Towards vs. Forward vs. Forwards
It’s easy to confuse toward/towards with forward/forwards because English has several words that use the -ward and -wards patterns.
Compare:
- toward / towards
- forward / forwards
- backward / backwards
- upward / upwards
- downward / downwards
- afterward / afterwards
The spelling patterns overlap, but usage isn’t identical in every expression.
For example, look forward to is a standard expression in both American and British English:
I look forward to hearing from you.
You wouldn’t normally replace it with look forwards to in standard formal American English.
The broader -ward/-wards pattern has also developed differently across varieties of English. Even within American and British English, individual words don’t all follow one perfectly uniform rule.
So don’t assume:
“If one word allows -wards, every -ward word must work the same way.”
English rarely makes things quite that tidy.
Is Toward a Preposition?
Yes.
The most common modern grammatical function of toward is as a preposition.
It connects a verb, adjective, or noun with another element in the sentence.
Examples:
- She walked toward the door.
- He turned toward me.
- They are moving toward success.
- Her attitude toward education changed.
In toward the door, the phrase tells you the direction of movement.
In attitude toward education, it identifies the object of the attitude.
Is Towards a Preposition?
Yes.
Towards also functions as a preposition.
Examples include:
- He walked towards the station.
- She looked towards the window.
- Their attitude towards change was positive.
- The money went towards the project.
The final s doesn’t turn the word into a different grammatical category.
Toward or Towards: Word Origin
The two forms have a long history.
Oxford traces towards to the Old English form tōweardes, connecting it with to and -ward. Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
The -ward element has historically carried the idea of direction. You can see a related pattern in words such as:
- forward
- backward
- upward
- downward
- inward
- outward
- homeward
The ending eventually developed into the modern forms we use today.
That history also helps explain why toward and towards feel so closely related. They aren’t unrelated spellings that happened to collide. They come from the same historical family.
Toward or Towards: Spelling and Grammar Facts
Here are the facts worth remembering:
- Toward is correct.
- Towards is correct.
- Both normally function as prepositions.
- Both can express physical direction.
- Both can express figurative progress.
- Both can describe relationships and attitudes.
- Both can refer to an approaching time.
- Both can describe contributions toward a goal or expense.
- Toward is generally more common in American English.
- Towards is generally more common in British English.
- The spelling difference normally does not create a difference in meaning.
- Neither form is inherently more formal.
- Consistency matters when you’re choosing between them.
Toward or Towards: Quick Examples
Here’s a quick reference you can bookmark mentally.
| Meaning | American preference | British preference |
| Direction | Walk toward the door. | Walk towards the door. |
| Progress | Move toward a solution. | Move towards a solution. |
| Attitude | Attitude toward others | Attitude towards others |
| Time | Toward the end of June | Towards the end of June |
| Contribution | Money toward repairs | Money towards repairs |
| Goal | Work toward success | Work towards success |
Notice the pattern: the meaning stays the same while the preferred spelling changes.
A Simple Case Study: Choosing the Right Form
Imagine an American software company is preparing its website.
The copywriter writes:
We’re working towards a faster, safer platform.
A second page says:
Our engineers are moving toward better performance.
Both sentences are grammatically correct.
However, the company has chosen American English for its website. Using toward consistently would make the copy fit that editorial choice better:
We’re working toward a faster, safer platform.
Our engineers are moving toward better performance.
Now imagine the same company operates primarily in the United Kingdom and follows British English throughout its marketing materials.
In that situation, towards would be the natural choice:
We’re working towards a faster, safer platform.
Our engineers are moving towards better performance.
The lesson
The problem wasn’t that either spelling was wrong.
The real issue was consistency with the chosen variety of English.
How to Remember Toward vs. Towards
You don’t need a complicated grammar trick.
Use this simple memory rule:
American English → toward
British English → towards
Think of the extra s as a regional preference rather than a grammatical requirement.
If you write primarily for US readers, make toward your default.
If you write primarily for UK readers, make towards your default.
And if you encounter the other form, don’t automatically reach for the red pen. It’s probably perfectly legitimate.
Toward vs. Towards: Which Should You Use?
The answer depends on your audience.
Use “toward” when:
- You’re writing in American English.
- Your audience is primarily in the United States.
- Your publication follows US English.
- Your company’s style guide prefers the American form.
- You want consistency with common American usage.
“towards” when:
- You’re writing in British English.
- Your audience is primarily in the United Kingdom.
- Your publication follows UK English.
- Your organization’s style guide prefers the British form.
- You want your wording to match common British usage.
Use either when:
- Regional English doesn’t matter.
- You’re writing informally.
- Your style guide accepts both.
- You’re quoting a source and preserving its original wording.
The safest principle is simple: choose the form that matches your variety of English, then use it consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions About Toward or Towards
Is toward or towards correct?
Both are correct. Toward is generally more common in American English, while towards is generally more common in British English. Cambridge Dictionary
Is toward an American spelling?
Yes, it is the more common American form. That doesn’t mean British writers cannot use it.
Is towards a British spelling?
Yes, it is the more common British form. However, towards is also accepted in American English.
Can I use towards in American English?
Yes. Towards is grammatically correct in American English, although toward is generally more common.
Can I use toward in British English?
Yes. Toward is also correct in British English, although towards is generally more common.
Do toward and towards have different meanings?
No. They normally have the same meaning. Both can describe direction, progress, relation, position, time, or contribution. Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
Which is more common in American English: toward or towards?
Toward is more common.
Which is more common in British English: toward or towards?
Towards is more common.
Is toward more formal than towards?
No. Neither spelling is inherently more formal. The difference mainly reflects regional preference.
Should I use toward or towards consistently?
Yes. While mixing them isn’t automatically grammatically wrong, choosing one form for a document creates a cleaner and more consistent style.
Is “towards” grammatically correct?
Yes. Towards is a standard preposition used widely in British English and accepted in American English as well.
Is “toward” a preposition?
Yes. For example:
She walked toward the door.
Is “towards” a preposition?
Yes. For example:
She walked towards the door.
Is “working toward” correct?
Yes. Working toward is correct and particularly common in American English.
Is “working towards” correct?
Yes. Working towards is correct and particularly common in British English.
Can toward and towards be used interchangeably?
In most ordinary contexts, yes. You can generally substitute one for the other without changing the sentence’s meaning.
Conclusion: Toward and Towards Are Both Correct
The toward or towards question looks like a spelling problem, but it’s really a matter of regional preference.
If you’re writing for a US audience, toward is the best default:
We’re working toward a better solution.
If you’re writing for a UK audience, towards will usually sound more natural:
We’re working towards a better solution.
Neither version is wrong. The key is to match your audience and stay consistent.
When in doubt, remember the simplest rule:
American English → toward
British English → towards
That one distinction will handle almost every everyday choice between the two.
