Thank you in advance.
What is the difference between Toward and Towards?
I think one is more British, and one is more American, just like the pair
forwards / forward...
forwards / forward...
I suppose "while" and "whilst" is in this same class of words.
I assume in the US, they just simplified these words by removing the endings?
I assume in the US, they just simplified these words by removing the endings?
Disagree. "Forward", "backward", and "toward" have plenty of usage in the US. We also rarely use "-st" forms at all; "amongst" isn't common either.
- Kef
- Kef
I think "amongst" must also be Brittish.
Also, don't we use "forward" in the US. Example: "The train is starting to move forward now." I guess in Britain (or somewhere else?) they'd say: "The train is starting to move forwards now."
Also, don't we use "forward" in the US. Example: "The train is starting to move forward now." I guess in Britain (or somewhere else?) they'd say: "The train is starting to move forwards now."
I don't thinks so. I'm an American I and would probably say "forwards".
I probably would say "forwards" in that context, but there are others where "forward" sounds better to me, though "forwards" is probably not wrong. For instance, I'm more likely to say "forward-facing" than "forwards-facing". There are also a few cases where "forward" is virtually required. For instance, the military drill instruction is "Forward, march!", never "Forwards, march!".
- Kef
- Kef
A Google search seems to show that "forward" is a whole lot more common than "forwards". "forward" has 214M hits, while "forwards" has only 1.7M.
I've never said "forwards" in my life and honesty it's the first time I come across such word.
I say "toward" "backward" "forward" "while" but "amongst".
Here in America (and I assume Canada too) we pronounce the word "toward(s)" differently than the British, we say [tOrd(z)] while in Britain they say [t@"wO:dz]
I say "toward" "backward" "forward" "while" but "amongst".
Here in America (and I assume Canada too) we pronounce the word "toward(s)" differently than the British, we say [tOrd(z)] while in Britain they say [t@"wO:dz]
"Here in America (and I assume Canada too) we pronounce the word "toward(s)" differently than the British, we say [tOrd(z)] while in Britain they say [t@"wO:dz] "
Then I find much more clear the British pronounciation.
Then I find much more clear the British pronounciation.
<<Here in America (and I assume Canada too) we pronounce the word "toward(s)" differently than the British, we say [tOrd(z)] while in Britain they say [t@"wO:dz] >>
We do? I always thought there was a 'w' sound in toward and towards, even in the US. Do tjhey pronounce it "tords" (rhymes with "cords", I suppose) down south?
We do? I always thought there was a 'w' sound in toward and towards, even in the US. Do tjhey pronounce it "tords" (rhymes with "cords", I suppose) down south?
In the UK "toward" is now quite rarely used, if at all. It's prettty much obsolete now. At one time of the day "toward" didn't only mean what "towards" generally means today (something in progress or afoot, or in the direction of something) but also meant something that was favourable or promising - Samuel Pepys in his famous diary used the word to mean this.
Towards is the word in standard use today, at least here in Britland, the only English speaking country I know intimately. Let's raise a glass towards a new dawn.....let's all sail forth towards new horizons, and so on...
Towards is the word in standard use today, at least here in Britland, the only English speaking country I know intimately. Let's raise a glass towards a new dawn.....let's all sail forth towards new horizons, and so on...