Anyone help me here? I'm at a loss, what is the proper time to use toward vs towards? I realize this is basic but, you know what you know. And I don't know the answer to this.
If I were to make up a convention it'd be as follows: He moved towards the bar. They moved toward the bar.
My gut says "He moved toward the bar," is correct. So, I don't know.
Posted by AstroStewart (Member # 2597) on October 28, 2007 09:36 PM:
Unlike "farther vs. further" (farther generally used for distances only, with further used for more abstract concepts), I believe the correct answer is to use whichever one you want. Like forward vs. forwards, backwards vs. backward, towards/toward are interchangeable spellings for the same word. Generally speaking, I think it just depends on your on what region you live in, whether people usually say toward or towards.
So use them in whatever combinations you want, whichever one sounds best for any given instance.
Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on October 28, 2007 10:40 PM:
Posted by Alethea Kontis (Member # 3748) on October 29, 2007 04:43 PM:
I edit both US and UK authors for a major publisher -- our rule is that the "s" (towards, afterwards, backwards, etc.) is for the UK authors only.
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on October 29, 2007 05:50 PM:
Very interesting. Why is that? Sort of like rumor vs rumour?
Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on October 29, 2007 07:03 PM:
It's funny, as an Australian, 'towards' sounds informal and relaxed to me. 'Toward' feels more like your trying to impress someone.
I don't know why.
If you were to use 'toward' in conversation most people would notice on some level but not say anything.
weird... I will have some deep therapy and get back to you.
Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on October 29, 2007 08:00 PM:
Zero:
quote:Very interesting. Why is that? Sort of like rumor vs rumour?
Nah. That'd be "toward" vs. "touward". Or "toward" vs. "towaurd". Or even "toward" vs. "touwaurd".
You knouw houw thouse British types like to lyttere their wourds with all kynds of alphabetycalle refuse. Maniacs, they are.
[This message has been edited by trousercuit (edited October 29, 2007).]
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on October 29, 2007 08:37 PM:
hahaha! genius!
Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on October 30, 2007 01:05 AM:
You know, you're right trouser, and count the Australians in on the fun. They even put an extra "i" in aluminum! My sisters and I thought that everyone in Australia was just pronouncing the word wrong, until we got hold of an Aussie dictionary and found that it's spelled (or is it spelt? LOL) aluminium. Honestly, were vowels cheap that day? Posted by Chaldea (Member # 4707) on October 30, 2007 01:30 AM:
Just thought I'd put in my two cents here. As a news copy editor at one time, our rule was to omit the "s" on such words in question; toward, backward, forward, etc. But in other literature, both are correct according to most English usage reference books.
Posted by TaleSpinner (Member # 5638) on October 30, 2007 04:01 AM:
'Honestly, were vowels cheap that day?'
Interesting question ...
'In 1807, Davy proposed the name alumium for the metal, undiscovered at that time, and later agreed to change it to aluminum. Shortly thereafter, the name aluminium was adopted by IUPAC to conform with the "ium" ending of most elements. Aluminium is the IUPAC spelling and therefore the international standard. Aluminium was also the accepted spelling in the U.S.A. until 1925, at which time the American Chemical Society decided to revert back to aluminum, and to this day Americans still refer to aluminium as "aluminum". '
I spent a whole afternoon once in America wondering how you guys made aeroplanes without ever having heard of aluminium!
Edited to add: My Oxford English Dictionary defines 'toward' as a mostly North American variant of 'towards.' I think this is one example of the many subtle differences between American and British English. (And if I'm not mistaken the Aussies use British English spelling albeit with some local vernacular.)
Here's an interesting page on 'Americanisms' from the Economist's style guide for British journalists writing for an international audience:
[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited October 30, 2007).]
Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on October 30, 2007 01:10 PM:
Fascinating! I've only seen this from the American side - a list of "Britishisms".
[This message has been edited by trousercuit (edited October 30, 2007).]
Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on October 30, 2007 01:16 PM:
That's really annoying. The author can't make up his mind whether the reader is supposed to follow American convention or not.
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on October 30, 2007 01:34 PM:
Yeah---could have had a lot more clarity, the writing skill was lacking.
Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on October 30, 2007 06:54 PM:
quote:Yeah---could have had a lot more clarity, the writing skill was lacking.
Perhaps you could rewrite it as an exercise and make it clearer. heh heh
That's a great article.
I once heard an American politician use 'happify' in a speech.
Happify?
Amazing.
[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited October 31, 2007).]
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on October 31, 2007 09:33 AM:
Don't forget truthiness!
Posted by baduizt (Member # 5804) on October 31, 2007 01:34 PM:
These must be George Bushisms :P
Cheers
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on October 31, 2007 06:37 PM:
heh heh