toward
preposition
in the direction of (US preference)
“She walked toward the door.”
Spelling variants
toward vs towards
Toward and towards mean the same thing. Toward is preferred in American English; towards in British English.
Quick test: The -s is British: towards, afterwards, forwards. American style drops it.
towards
preposition
in the direction of (UK preference)
“He ran towards the bus stop.”
Try it: which word fits?
Drop each word into the blank. The explanation tells you why one works and the other doesn't.
(US English) The dog ran ______ me.
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Questions about toward vs towards
What is the difference between toward and towards?
Toward and towards mean the same thing. Toward is preferred in American English; towards in British English.
How do I remember toward vs towards?
The -s is British: towards, afterwards, forwards. American style drops it.
Are there exceptions?
The AP Stylebook and Chicago both use toward. The same split applies to afterward/afterwards and forward/forwards (direction).
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