OK, that is not a word. No one ever uses that word. I periodically use “untoward”, meaning something like improper, or sometimes as a gross understatement of vulgar and disgusting.
My question is about the “-ward(s)” words. Toward, froward, backward, upward, inward, forward, just about any directional preposition can become an adverb with the addition of the -ward suffix.
But when do you use “-wards”? Do you add the “s” ever, yourself? Does it sound at all a tad low-brow, to you, to add the “s”?
And do you perceive any difference in meaning, onward or onwards?
My understanding has been that “towards” is more common in British English, while “toward” is more common in American. But other than that, they’re totally interchangeable.
Well, you would usually not describe that village up in the hills as being “backwards”, unless every day there is Opposite Day. If it is “backward”, it seems like it is not keeping up with the times.
This is a great thing to test via Google’s ngram software. Here’s the result for “forward” versus “forwards”: Google Ngram Viewer
Myself, as a 40-something USian with a college education: I don’t follow a consistent rule in usage that I can discern for “-ard” versus “-ards,” but I use “-ards” words very infrequently altogether.
One exception I can think of in spoken English: “towards me” is my preference over “toward me,” probably because the S-M sound is more natural than the D-M sound. I would write it as “toward me,” though, I think, especially in formal writing.
OK, another exception when speaking: I’d use “backwards” over “backward” when using an adverb. “Go backwards, drive backwards,” etc. In writing, more likely to use “backward,” but I think it would depend on context in some way I can’t quite articulate.
I use the “s” versions, unless it’s part of a compound such as “inward-looking” or “outward-facing”. Where I live, the “s” versions seem to be preferred.
To me, there is no difference in these sets of words whether they have an “s” at the end or not. It is simply a matter of preference and style. I used to use a lot of the “-s” construction myself, until I got introduced to AP Style, and now that’s one of the stylistic preferences that stick with me. But I’ll use both
“Untoward” has a distinct meaning which is not related to “away from”. In a sentence, it might be used like “Jed Clampett’s behavior at the cocktail party was untoward,” meaning something like improper, perhaps boorish.
