Toward or Towards? [Spelling, Difference & Examples]

If you've been confused about which one (toward or towards) to use in your essays, stories, or emails, you’ve come to the right place. 

By the end of this post, you'll feel super confident about choosing between these two words in your writing.

Let's jump straight into the spelling, differences, and examples of these tricky terms.

What Do Toward & Towards Mean?

Before we dive deeper, let's get on the same page. 

Both toward & towards are prepositions (and sometimes adverbs) that point to direction, movement, or orientation. They can talk about physical movement, like walking toward a building, or something more abstract, like working towards a promotion. 

Basically, they mean “in the direction of,” “facing,” or “regarding.”

For example:

• She walked toward the park. (Physical direction)

• He's working towards a promotion. (Abstract goal)

Here's the good news! When it comes to what they actually mean, toward & towards are 100% identical. The difference isn't about meaning but about spelling and where they're typically used. 

Let’s break this down for you.

Spelling

The main thing that sets toward & towards apart is their spelling, which comes down to regional preferences:

1. Toward

This is the American English version. It's shorter without the “s” at the end. If you're writing for Americans or following style guides like AP or Chicago Manual, toward is your go-to.

2. Towards

This version, with the extra “s,” is what British English prefers, along with Australian and Canadian English. If you're writing for UK readers or using Oxford style, towards is more common.

Quick Tip: Neither spelling is wrong. Your choice depends on who's reading your work & what rules you're following. Just be consistent; don't flip-flop between toward & towards in the same piece of writing.

To make this super clear, we've created this quick-reference table for you:

Examples

To really get how toward & towards work, let's look at some examples. 

1. Physical Direction

American English

The dog ran toward the ball in the yard.

British English

The dog ran towards the ball in the park.

American English

He looked toward the hill where his friends were waiting.

British English

She looked towards the hill where her friends stood.

2. Abstract Goals or Progress

American English

I'm saving money toward a new computer.

British English

I'm saving money towards a new laptop.

American English

The team is working toward a better plan.

British English

The team is working towards a better solution.

3. Attitudes or Relationships

American English

She felt happy toward her new friends.

British English

He felt kind towards his old friends.

American English

His feelings toward learning got better over time.

British English

Her feelings towards studying were always good.

4. Time-Related Usage

American English

The party is planned toward the end of the day.

British English

The party is planned towards the end of the week.

See how the meaning stays exactly the same? 

Only the spelling changes based on regional preferences.

Additional Examples

American English

The child walked toward her mother with a smile.

British English

The child walked towards her mom with a smile.

American English

We're working toward fixing this problem.

British English

We're working towards solving this question.

American English

The wind blew leaves toward the east.

British English

The wind blew leaves towards the east.

Are They Ever Adverbs?

While toward & towards are mainly prepositions, they can sometimes function as adverbs, though this isn't super common. When used this way, they mean “in a direction” or “onward.” For example:

• The boat moved toward, into the open water. (Adverb, rare)

• They walked towards, wanting to reach the end. (Adverb, rare)

Which Should You Use?

Choosing between toward & towards comes down to three main factors:

1. Audience

Writing for Americans? Use toward. For Brits? Go with towards.

2. Style Guide

Check what your academic paper, assignment, or creative writing project requires.

3. Consistency

Pick one spelling & stick with it throughout your work. Mixing them looks messy & confuses readers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced writers trip over toward & towards sometimes. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for:

1. Inconsistency

Don't write “She walked toward the store but looked towards the sky.” Choose one & stick with it.

2. Overthinking Meaning

Remember, they mean exactly the same thing.

3. Misspelling

Double-check your work. “Twords” or “towords” aren't real words!

Practice Makes Perfect

Now is the time to test your skills.

• The hikers walked ______ the top of the hill. (American English)

• She moved ______ him to talk. (British English)

• We're moving ______ a better future together. (Your choice—be consistent!)

Answers:

• toward

• towards

• Either, as long as you stick with it!

Try writing your own sentences too. Practice is the best way to get comfortable with this rule.

Final Verdict

Toward or towards? 

The choice is totally yours, based on your audience & context. 

Both are correct, both are versatile, & both will work great in your writing. The key is understanding their regional roots & using them consistently.

Mastering this small but important distinction is a step toward (or towards!) more polished writing. Keep practicing, check the table when you're unsure, & soon, this grammar quirk will feel completely natural.

Thanks for reading this blog post! We hope you found it helpful in understanding the difference between toward & towards