Toward vs. Towards: Clear Up the Confusion!

When you’re moving in the direction of something, are you going toward or towards it? It can get confusing when there are words that are so similar and don’t seem to have any differences at all. Still, when speaking or writing, you never want the other person to misunderstand you because you’ve used the wrong word, no matter how similar it sounds and looks.

Toward vs. Towards: the Key Differences

Key Distinctions:

  • Both toward and towards mean “in the direction of“.
  • Toward: More common in American English.
  • Towards: More common in British English.
Toward vs. Towards
Toward vs. Towards – Created by 7ESL

Toward vs. Towards: Definition, Examples

“Toward” and “towards” are both correct and mean the same thing, but their usage depends on regional preferences.

Toward:

  • Use: Preferred in American English.
  • Examples:
    • “She walked toward the door.”
    • “He is moving toward his goals.”
  • Explanation: In the U.S., “toward” is commonly used in both formal and informal writing.

Towards:

  • Use: Preferred in British English and other varieties like Australian and Canadian English.
  • Examples:
    • “She walked towards the door.”
    • “They showed kindness towards their neighbors.”
  • Explanation: In the UK and other English-speaking regions outside the U.S., “towards” is more commonly used.

Toward vs. Towards: When to Use

When to Use Toward

“Toward” is often preferred in American and Canadian English.

  • In print: We see “toward” more commonly in formal writing, including published books and articles within the United States and Canada.
  • In speech: Even when we speak, we Americans tend to drop the ‘s’ and simply say “toward.”

When to Use Towards

“Towards” is favored in British, Australian, and other forms of English outside North America.

  • In print: In the UK or Australia, “towards” dominates in newspapers and literary works.
  • In speech: When we’re in the UK, we’ll hear “towards” used more frequently in everyday conversation.

Toward vs. Towards Examples in Sentences

Examples of “Toward” in Sentences

  1. She took a step toward the door, ready to leave.
  2. His attitude toward work is very positive and proactive.
  3. The cat crept slowly toward the unsuspecting bird.
  4. He made a generous donation toward the charity fundraiser.
  5. The company is making significant progress toward achieving its environmental goals.

Examples of “Towards” in Sentences

  1. The crowd moved towards the stage as the concert began.
  2. She has always been kind towards animals and cares for them deeply.
  3. The wind blew fiercely towards the coast, causing high waves.
  4. They have been working hard towards completing the project on time.
  5. His feelings towards the issue changed after he learned more about it.

Toward vs. Towards Exercises

Fill in the blank 

  1. She took a step __________ the door, ready to leave.
  2. His attitude __________ work has become much more positive recently.
  3. The cat ran __________ me when I called its name.
  4. They have been working __________ completing the project before the deadline.
  5. He has always been kind __________ his neighbors.
  6. The wind is blowing __________ the east today.
  7. The company made a significant donation __________ the charity.
  8. The crowd moved __________ the stage to get a better view of the performance.
  9. Her contribution __________ the discussion was very insightful.
  10. The budget cuts have been directed __________ reducing unnecessary expenses.

Answer and Explanation 

  1. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: Both “toward” and “towards” can be used here as a preposition to indicate direction.
  2. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: Either “toward” or “towards” can be used to indicate someone’s feelings or attitude in relation to something.
  3. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: Both “toward” and “towards” function here to show the direction of the cat’s movement.
  4. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: “Toward” or “towards” can be used to indicate the direction of effort or progress.
  5. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: Either can be used to describe the manner in which someone acts in relation to others.
  6. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: Both “toward” and “towards” are correct for indicating the direction of the wind.
  7. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: Either “toward” or “towards” can be used to indicate the direction of the donation.
  8. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: “Toward” or “towards” can be used to show movement in a particular direction.
  9. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: Both are correct for indicating the relationship between the contribution and the discussion.
  10. Answer: toward/towards
    • Explanation: “Toward” or “towards” can be used to show the aim or purpose of the budget cuts.
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