Grammarly is a program that checks for spelling and grammar errors. It also suggests corrections and flags style issues. It’s available as a plug-in for various programs and apps, as well as a standalone program that starts at $12 per month.
Many words have multiple correct spellings. That’s especially true for prepositions like toward and towards.
Towards
You may be surprised to learn that toward and towards are actually two equally acceptable forms of the same word when used as prepositions. In fact, many English speakers use them interchangeably and there is no grammatical reason not to do so. The differences between them are not as dramatic as some other spelling differences (like color vs. colour or British honor for American honour). Rather, the distinction between the two is based on where you live and what your preferred style guide recommends.
According to the AP Stylebook and Chicago Manual of Style, toward without the s is generally favored in American English, while towards with the s is preferred in British English. However, even within those communities, there are speakers and writers who favor one form over the other.
Towards is actually a form of the verb to move, which means it can be used as either a noun or a preposition. Prepositions are the parts of speech that connect nouns and pronouns to other words and phrases in a sentence. Towards is also a preposition of direction, meaning it can be used to show the direction in which something is moving or a relationship is evolving.
If you’re not sure whether to use toward or towards in a particular context, you can always ask your audience what they prefer. They may surprise you with their preference, and if they don’t, you can always just use the spelling that sounds most natural to you.
You can even take it a step further and use both versions in the same sentence, just make sure you’re consistent throughout your work. This way, you can appeal to your audience while still maintaining the clarity of your writing.
In other words, the difference between toward and towards is a matter of regional preference, not grammar. It’s a little like the difference between accents. While linguists might point out some subtle differences, in reality, they all sound pretty similar to an untrained ear.
While there are some grammatical rules that are important to know and follow, other rules can be quite loosely defined. This is what makes the spelling of toward and towards so interesting – it’s a rare case where a rule exists, but it is not particularly strict. If you need help making sure your writing is perfect, try using a grammar checker to catch misspellings, grammatical errors, and other mistakes. Try a free grammar checker from Grammarly today! You’ll be amazed at how much it can help you write better.