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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread toward vs. towards #346 03/16/2000 5:29 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 3 deborah s stranger deborah s stranger Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 3 I never know whether to use "toward" or "towards" (is the latter ever correct?). Does anyone know the rule? For example, in a sentence like "send your contributions toward(s) a gift to...," which form of the word would be correct? Thanks for your input! Copy Link to Clipboard Re: toward vs. towards #347 03/16/2000 10:37 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 18 jackiemw stranger jackiemw stranger Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 18 James J. Kilpatrick, in his book Fine Print, says there is no discernible difference between the two: the British prefer towards; American usage calls for toward. Fowler, however, has a more complicated answer. He notes differences in pronunciation and usage (adjective/preposition). Says use as adjective is obsolete and, as preposition, the -s form is the prevailing one, and the other tends to become literary on the one hand and provincial on the other. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: toward vs. towards #348 03/16/2000 11:57 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 3 deborah s stranger deborah s stranger Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 3 Thank you kindly. That's very interesting and very helpful. Copy Link to Clipboard Re: toward vs. towards #349 03/17/2000 7:22 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 2 wildalaskarose stranger wildalaskarose stranger Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 2 In journalism school, I was told that an "s" at the end of 'toward' is unnecessary according to the Associated Press style book. It is the same for 'backward' and 'forward' -- NKR Copy Link to Clipboard Re: toward vs. towards #350 03/22/2000 11:48 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 I think this is right. In Britain it would be usual to use towards. My Collins (UK edition) lists toward as obsolete, based on the Old English toweard. Instead, it is obviously alive and well and living in the USA. Copy Link to Clipboard Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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