Toward Or Towards - Your Guide To Word Choices

Have you ever stopped for a moment, pen in hand or fingers poised over the keyboard, wondering if you should use 'toward' or its sibling ending with an 's'? It's a common little puzzle for many who put words on paper or on a screen. This small point in language can make you pause, trying to figure out which form is the best fit for your message. So, that is what we are looking at here.

Often, people feel a slight bit of confusion when these two words come up. They look so similar, and in some ways, they act the same. Yet, there's that one little letter that makes them different. We often hear both spoken, and we see both written down, so it's quite natural to wonder if there's a secret rule or a proper way to pick one over the other. This short discussion will clear up some of that, you know, for your writing.

The good news is that for most everyday talking and writing, both of these word forms do the same job. They point in a certain way or show closeness. The choice often comes down to where you are, or perhaps, who you are talking to. It's a bit like picking out clothes; sometimes one just feels a little more right for the occasion, and that's usually all there is to it, honestly.

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Table of Contents

• What's the Big Deal with Toward and its Sibling?
• Where Does Toward Come From?
• Does Location Affect Your Choice of Toward or the S-Ending Version?
• A Closer Look at Toward in American Writing
• The 'S'-Ending Variant in British English
• When Do We Use Toward (or its S-Ending Twin)?
• Thinking About Audience and Toward Choices
• Is One "More Correct" Than the Other?

What's the Big Deal with Toward and its Sibling?

Many people wonder about the slight difference between 'toward' and the word that has an 's' at its end. It's a question that pops up fairly often, you know, when someone is trying to get their words just right. The simple truth is, both of these words are perfectly fine to use when you want to talk about moving in a certain way or being close to something. They mean the same thing, which is really helpful, as a matter of fact, because it means you don't have to worry too much.

The only real visible difference between these two word forms is that one carries an extra letter at its finish. One just ends plainly, while the other adds that small 's'. This small detail is the single point of change between them. Beyond that, they share the same core meaning, acting like twins in the way they work within a sentence. They are, essentially, two ways to say the same exact thing, which is pretty cool, if you think about it.

These two word forms have been around for a very long time, actually, sharing a common background in the language. They have been used, more or less, in the same way since they first appeared, way back in the ninth century. This long history shows that speakers and writers have been swapping them out for centuries, choosing whichever one felt right at the time. It really points to how flexible language can be, just a little, when it comes to these sorts of things.

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The idea that they have been used back and forth for such a long time is quite telling. It suggests that, for many years, people did not see a strong reason to pick one over the other based on strict rules. Their sameness in meaning has always been the main point. So, when you see them used in different places, it is often just a matter of habit or what sounds a little more natural to the person doing the writing or speaking, you know?

Where Does Toward Come From?

It's interesting to think about where words come from, and 'toward' is no different. This word, along with its 's'-ending partner, has roots that stretch back a long way in the history of the English language. Both of these forms were noted down before the year 900, which is really quite ancient, if you think about it. They both come from an older English word, which was 'toeward'. That older word meant, basically, "in the direction of."

The fact that they both come from the same very old word tells us something important. It shows that the slight difference we see today, with or without the 's', has been part of their make-up for a very, very long time. It is not a new thing, but rather a long-standing way that this idea has been expressed in our speech. So, when you use 'toward', you are connecting to a linguistic past that goes back over a thousand years, which is pretty neat, you know?

Over the many centuries, languages change quite a bit, but some words hold onto their core meaning and form with remarkable consistency. These two words, 'toward' and its variant, have managed to stay very close to their original sense. They still mean "in the direction of," just as they did when they were first written down. This kind of stability in language is something we sometimes take for granted, but it is actually quite special.

So, when you are trying to decide which one to use, it might help a little to remember their shared, very old origin. They are truly two parts of the same linguistic family, born from the same idea, and growing up together through the ages. Their history shows that both forms have always been accepted, which gives you a lot of freedom in your own word choices, basically.

Does Location Affect Your Choice of Toward or the S-Ending Version?

When it comes to picking between 'toward' and the word that ends in an 's', where you live or where your readers live can actually play a role. It's a bit like how some places call a fizzy drink 'soda' and others call it 'pop', you know? Both are right, but one just sounds more natural depending on where you are. This is very true for these two direction-showing words.

In the United States and Canada, for example, you will find that 'toward' is used more often. It is the form that feels most familiar and is seen more frequently in books, newspapers, and everyday conversations in these parts of the world. So, if you are writing for people in North America, using 'toward' is usually the way to go. It just feels a little more like home for many readers there.

On the other hand, if you are writing for people in countries that follow British English spelling and usage, you will notice a different habit. In places like the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, the word ending with an 's' is the one that is preferred. It's what they are used to seeing and hearing, and it just sounds more common to their ears. So, your audience's location can indeed guide your word choice, which is pretty interesting, I think.

This difference in preference is not about one being correct and the other being wrong. Not at all. It is simply a matter of regional habit, a style that has become the norm in certain places over time. It just depends on what sounds most correct to the speaker or writer who is doing the choosing. So, in some respects, it is a matter of custom, more than a strict rule.

A Closer Look at Toward in American Writing

In American writing, you will see 'toward' show up quite a lot. It is the go-to choice for many writers across the United States and in Canada too. This preference is quite strong, and it means that if you are reading an American newspaper or magazine, or a book written by an American author, you will almost certainly come across 'toward' much more often than its 's'-ending counterpart. It is just the way things are, you know, in that part of the world.

This common use means that 'toward' feels very natural to American eyes and ears. It is the spelling that has become deeply set in their everyday language habits. When someone in the US is writing, 'toward' often comes to mind first, without much thought. It is the form that simply feels right, like a familiar old friend in their vocabulary. This makes it a very safe choice when you want to connect with an American audience.

Consider, for instance, a news story about a storm moving across the country. An American reporter would almost certainly write that the storm is heading 'toward' the coast. It is the expected and accepted way to phrase it there. This consistent use helps build a common style across all sorts of written materials in America, making 'toward' a solid choice for anyone aiming for that particular feel.

So, if you find yourself putting words down for an American audience, perhaps for a website or an article that will be read mainly by people in the US, 'toward' is the best spelling to pick. It aligns with what readers there expect and are used to seeing. It's a small detail, but these little details can help your writing feel more familiar and comfortable to your readers, which is really quite important.

The 'S'-Ending Variant in British English

On the other side of the Atlantic, and in many other places around the globe where British English is the standard, the word that ends with an 's' is the one you will typically find. This spelling is the one that has gained favor in the United Kingdom, as well as in places like Australia