Could someone clarify the difference between toward and towards?
Does it have something to do with agreement in number?
Does it have something to do with agreement in number?
Toward vs. Towards
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Towards
It takes longer to get where you're going if you add the es.
Seriously, the difference is largely one of US versus UK usage. "Toward" is the most common usage in the US, and "Towards" is the most common usage in the UK.
Who Watches the... said:
It takes longer to get where you're going if you add the es.
Seriously, the difference is largely one of US versus UK usage. "Toward" is the most common usage in the US, and "Towards" is the most common usage in the UK.
Personally, I use them interchangeably
If I want to sound more flowery, I use towards, otherwise, I use toward. I've never been corrected for it. Perhaps its one of those invisible words we don't notice until someone brings it up. Kinda like,
regardless vs irregardless. Even though irregardless isn't an official word, everyone uses it and it is a synonym for regardless.
If I want to sound more flowery, I use towards, otherwise, I use toward. I've never been corrected for it. Perhaps its one of those invisible words we don't notice until someone brings it up. Kinda like,
regardless vs irregardless. Even though irregardless isn't an official word, everyone uses it and it is a synonym for regardless.
irregardless
God, I hope not. I sure don't, and neither does any good writer or editor I know. The moment I hear or read the word "irregardless," I assume I'm talking to a person who isn't anywhere near as literate as they should be.
And unless a writer uses the word "irregardless" in dialogue with the purpose of showing a character isn't educated, I'll stop reading and reach for a rejection slip.
dgiharris said:
God, I hope not. I sure don't, and neither does any good writer or editor I know. The moment I hear or read the word "irregardless," I assume I'm talking to a person who isn't anywhere near as literate as they should be.
And unless a writer uses the word "irregardless" in dialogue with the purpose of showing a character isn't educated, I'll stop reading and reach for a rejection slip.
dgiharris said:
This is bad! (And now you can't say that anymore.)
The horror! Only ungrammatical bums use irregardless. Use that in a query or opening pages, and you risk getting tossed.
If the Grammar forum ever sports a sticky, I expect the question of toward versus towards would be near the top. This issue comes up often, and it doesn't hurt to remember the spelling difference also applies to upward and downward and backward and forward.
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I'm one of those nutty people...
Everytime I see "towards" it's like someone just bumped into me. It draws me out... it drive me crazy. Unless I'm reading a book by a UK or European author - I can't standing seeing "towards". I also find I always comment on it when I critique. I think it sounds off.
Using "irregardless" is like waving a red flag. I can't stand it. The only time I let it slide when I'm reading is if someone says it in dialogue... simply because it is the unfortunate reality that people do use that word.
But I suppose I shouldn't go off on a tangent on that right now
Everytime I see "towards" it's like someone just bumped into me. It draws me out... it drive me crazy. Unless I'm reading a book by a UK or European author - I can't standing seeing "towards". I also find I always comment on it when I critique. I think it sounds off.
Using "irregardless" is like waving a red flag. I can't stand it. The only time I let it slide when I'm reading is if someone says it in dialogue... simply because it is the unfortunate reality that people do use that word.
But I suppose I shouldn't go off on a tangent on that right now
James is right. 'Towards' is the Brit version. 'Toward' is the American variation.
Americans are terrible pragmatists, lopping off letters at the drop of a hat: striding the world in their big woolly sox, waving an ax in one hand and their co...py of Webster's in the other.*
In fact this is why Scrabble was invented by Alfred Butts during the Great Depression. Storing all these unwanted letters in warehouses throughout America was putting a strain on an already over-stretched economy. Butts came to the rescue by not only finding a use for them - but by managing to sell them back to the rest of the world. Problem solved. Hurrah!
* And just what exactly did you think I was going to say?
Americans are terrible pragmatists, lopping off letters at the drop of a hat: striding the world in their big woolly sox, waving an ax in one hand and their co...py of Webster's in the other.*
In fact this is why Scrabble was invented by Alfred Butts during the Great Depression. Storing all these unwanted letters in warehouses throughout America was putting a strain on an already over-stretched economy. Butts came to the rescue by not only finding a use for them - but by managing to sell them back to the rest of the world. Problem solved. Hurrah!
* And just what exactly did you think I was going to say?
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Really? I could swear that "towards" is used more often in America, especially during conversation. Is one preferred over the other? Or is it like color and colour?
Toards
It's just my experience, but it seems to me that "toward" is much more common in American writing, on American campus, anywhere there's more education and formality.
"Towards" seems more common with the average person who doesn't read much, or isn't highly educated.
Both are legitimate words, and unlike most UK spelling, I suspect many editors would let either stand.
Who Watches the... said:
It's just my experience, but it seems to me that "toward" is much more common in American writing, on American campus, anywhere there's more education and formality.
"Towards" seems more common with the average person who doesn't read much, or isn't highly educated.
Both are legitimate words, and unlike most UK spelling, I suspect many editors would let either stand.
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There's the American vs. British difference. But I also think there's a difference between abstract and concrete:
I walked toward the door.
I have a good feeling towards her.
I walked toward the door.
I have a good feeling towards her.
I've argued this before on this topic, but the Brits muck it up. No offense intended to the Motherland. And I know not everyone will agree, but I try
"Toward" is better than "towards." Toward is a preposition, and there is no need for the "s." You wouldn't say, The ball is aboves the house. The ball is behinds the house. The ball is nears the house. The ball is ins the house. He threw the ball aways from the house.
The "s" seems sloppy to me.
Oh, and you wouldn't walk forwards, would you? Personally, I wouldn't walk backwards either.
"Toward" is better than "towards." Toward is a preposition, and there is no need for the "s." You wouldn't say, The ball is aboves the house. The ball is behinds the house. The ball is nears the house. The ball is ins the house. He threw the ball aways from the house.
The "s" seems sloppy to me.
Oh, and you wouldn't walk forwards, would you? Personally, I wouldn't walk backwards either.
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This whole "s" issue is as confusing as:
besides vs. beside
afterwards vs. afterward
backwards vs. backward
besides vs. beside
afterwards vs. afterward
backwards vs. backward
Beside for the preposition: She stood beside the statue.
Besides for the adverb: There are other issues I need to work on besides this one.
I'd always go with "afterward" and "backward" for prepositions, for the reason above.
Besides for the adverb: There are other issues I need to work on besides this one.
I'd always go with "afterward" and "backward" for prepositions, for the reason above.
Towards
Very good explanation.
veronie said:I've argued this before on this topic, but the Brits muck it up. No offense intended to the Motherland. And I know not everyone will agree, but I try
"Toward" is better than "towards." Toward is a preposition, and there is no need for the "s." You wouldn't say, The ball is aboves the house. The ball is behinds the house. The ball is nears the house. The ball is ins the house. He threw the ball aways from the house.
The "s" seems sloppy to me.
Oh, and you wouldn't walk forwards, would you? Personally, I wouldn't walk backwards either.
Very good explanation.
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And there's sideway vs. sideways.
Note that the American movie/novel is entitled "Sideways." So I am not sure about the American/UK thing.
Note that the American movie/novel is entitled "Sideways." So I am not sure about the American/UK thing.
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veronie said:
Actually, at least according to the dictionaries, "besides" is also a preposition, and seems to be interchangeable with "beside."
English is so confusing!
Out of curiosity, what dictionary? The one i refer to, Webster's New World College, makes a clear distinction between beside, the preposition, and besides, the adverb.
Oh, I just noticed your usage note says "when they are used as prepositions." That's the key. I would use beside for the proposition in all cases, I believe.
Oh, I just noticed your usage note says "when they are used as prepositions." That's the key. I would use beside for the proposition in all cases, I believe.
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maestrowork said:
What dictionary? Not one of mine even hints that the two words are interchangable.
Well, perhaps he's right. I looked at it again, and Webster's New World Collegiate does have an adverbial (archaic) usage for beside, and a prepositional usage for besides.
However, it makes clear enough that, in the main, "beside" is preferred for the preposition, and "besides" is preferred for the adverb. And that's how I do it, too.
However, it makes clear enough that, in the main, "beside" is preferred for the preposition, and "besides" is preferred for the adverb. And that's how I do it, too.
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