Word Choice – Toward Versus Towards

BizWritingTip reader: “My pet peeve is the use of towards instead of toward. I see it all the time in business communication, e.g., ‘… progress towards our goal.’ To my knowledge, there is no such word as towards. Am I correct?”

BizWritingTip response: Towards is traditionally used in British English and toward is more traditionally used in American English. According to the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, toward and towards are equally common in Canada. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary agrees.

I trust with these BizWritingTip that you are moving toward a greater confidence in your business writing style.