Forward vs Sending

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Forward

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adverb

Sending

Top 1,000 (very common)

	Forward	Sending
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɔːwəd/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɔːrwərd/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈsɛndɪŋ// 🇺🇸 //ˈsɛndɪŋ//
Meaning	To send something to a person or place.	To cause something to go to a place, usually by mail or electronically.
Example	She decided to move forward with her plans despite the challenges.	I am sending the package tomorrow.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	adverb
Collocations	forward an email, forward a message, forward your request, forward information, forward your details	sending messages, sending files, sending emails, sending love, sending signals
Antonyms	backward, reverse	receiving
Common mistakes	Confused with 'foward' (spelling mistake), Using 'forward' in the wrong tense (e.g., saying 'I forward' instead of 'I will forward'), Misusing intransitively, as 'forward' usually needs an object	Confused with 'sending to' vs 'sending for'., Using 'send' instead of 'sending' in continuous tenses., Incorrectly using the past form instead of present continuous.
Usage notes	Use 'forward' when you send emails or messages to someone else. It's appropriate in both professional and casual contexts, but be careful not to use it in overly formal writing.	Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Appropriate for emails, messages, and deliveries, but avoid in highly formal documents without context.

See it in real clips

House Of Cards › S1 E1

and we are moving forward with it.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

Rose, forward all calls to the briefing room.

Game Of Thrones › S1 E1

Come forward, my dear.

House Of Cards › S1 E1

and we are moving forward with it.

Agent Carter › S1 E1

Rose, forward all calls to the briefing room.

Forward

...it's about sending a message.

Sending

Frequently asked questions: Forward vs Sending

What's the difference between Forward and Sending?

Forward: To send something to a person or place. Sending: To cause something to go to a place, usually by mail or electronically.

Can you show an example of each?

Forward: She decided to move forward with her plans despite the challenges. Sending: I am sending the package tomorrow.

Can I use Forward and Sending interchangeably?

Not always. Forward and Sending 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.