I feel bad for using this forum to ask such a simple question, but I'm in the middle of trying to get stuff together for a possible payday on the sequel to my first novel, so...
sorry, but I know someone here knows the answer and the more I think on it, the more I doubt myself.
Rules on To vs. Toward???
I know, never use towardS, just like never use besideS, and I think to is used in destination related circumstances.
Specifically, do you turn your head toward??? a sound?
Posted by seikari (Member # 8327) on :
Well, I'd say we do turn our heads "toward". "Toward" is more animated than "to" - for example, if applied to a head moving, then I imagine the head actually turning. "Toward" seems like it should be used for a direction while "to" for a destination...?
What am I trying to say? >_>'' Turning "toward" indicates a gradual movement for me, like sunflowers turning toward the sun. I'd use "to" if I want to say for example "I turned to the person next to me".
AUGHHHH, I hope that helped a little, now you got me thinking about this question. I hate these annoying little problems that always seem to be embedded in all my stories.
Good luck! I'll be checking on this thread to learn the difference between the two a while later. =D
Posted by Cheyne (Member # 7710) on :
RG, Essentially you have it right. Toward is facing or moving in the direction of. (The 'ward' in toward is the same as forward, inward, leeward, backward, seaward, etc, denoting a direction) 'I walked toward the store.' To implies that you/it is actually going to get there. 'I walked to the store'
I too often turn 'to' someone but think that that may be colloquial. You should indeed turn toward a sound as you can't possibly reach it.