Cool MateTo vs Toward vs Towards
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
To
High-frequency chunkA1preposition
Toward
Top 2,000 (common)B1
Towards
Top 1,000 (very common)A2preposition
| To | Toward | Towards | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tə//tu//tuː/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tə//tu//tuː/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //təˈwɔːd//🇺🇸 //təˈwɔrd// | 🇬🇧 /["/təˈwɔːdz/","/təˈwɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tɔːrdz/","/tɔːrd/"]/ |
| Meaning | a word used to show movement towards a place or direction | In the direction of something | In the direction of something. |
| Example | She is going to the store. | She walked toward the store. | They were heading towards the German border. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | preposition | preposition | |
| Collocations | go to, listen to, give to, respond to, react to | walk toward, lean toward, toward the end, head toward | walk towards, move towards, head towards |
| Antonyms | from, away from, off | away, against | away, backward |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'too' when indicating excess or inclusion., Used before a gerund incorrectly instead of an infinitive (e.g., 'to going' should be 'to go')., Spelled as 'two' instead of 'to' when not referring to the number. | Confusing with 'towards' which is less common but acceptable in British English., Using 'toward' in a figurative sense incorrectly, like 'toward a solution' without clear context. | Confused with 'toward' — remember they are interchangeable but 'towards' is more common in British English., Incorrectly using 'towards' when the direction is not physical — use it only for direction or goals. |
| Usage notes | Used to indicate direction, recipient, or purpose. It's common in both spoken and written English, but be careful not to confuse it with 'too' (meaning 'also' or 'excessively'). | Used to indicate direction or focus. Neutral in tone, suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in overly formal contexts where 'in the direction of' may be preferred. | Use 'towards' when indicating direction or goal. It’s suitable in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very formal contexts where 'in the direction of' might be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: To vs Toward vs Towards
What's the difference between To, Toward, and Towards?
To: a word used to show movement towards a place or direction Toward: In the direction of something Towards: In the direction of something.
Which is more advanced: To, Toward, and Towards?
Toward is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are To, Toward, and Towards the same CEFR level?
To: A1, Toward: B1, Towards: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
To: She is going to the store. Toward: She walked toward the store. Towards: They were heading towards the German border.
Can I use To, Toward, and Towards interchangeably?
Not always. To, Toward, and Towards are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.