Downward vs. Downwards: Is There a Difference?
Downward vs. Downwards
"Downward" and "downwards" mean the same thing: moving or pointing toward a lower position. The difference between them is regional preference, not meaning.
American English Prefers "Downward"
In American English, "downward" is the standard form used as both an adjective and an adverb. Most American publications, style guides, and textbooks use "downward" exclusively.
- The stock market continued its downward trend through the quarter.
- Water flows downward due to gravity.
- She glanced downward at her notes before responding.
- The downward slope made the hike easier on the way out.
British English Often Uses "Downwards"
British English speakers and writers tend to use "downwards" as the adverb form while keeping "downward" as the adjective. This split follows a broader British pattern that also applies to toward/towards, backward/backwards, and forward/forwards.
- The elevator moved downwards slowly. (British adverb)
- The downward motion of the elevator was smooth. (adjective in both dialects)
- She looked downwards at the garden below. (British adverb)
The Pattern
This distinction applies to a whole family of directional words:
| American English | British English (adverb) | Both dialects (adjective) | |---|---|---| | downward | downwards | downward | | upward | upwards | upward | | backward | backwards | backward | | forward | forwards | forward | | toward | towards | — | | afterward | afterwards | — |
In American English, the form without "-s" handles both roles. In British English, the "-s" form typically serves as the adverb while the shorter form remains the adjective.
Which Should You Use?
Match your audience:
- Writing for an American audience? Use downward for everything.
- Writing for a British audience? Use downwards as an adverb and downward as an adjective.
- Writing for an international audience? Either is fine, but stay consistent throughout your document.
Common Collocations
Some phrases strongly favor "downward" regardless of dialect:
- Downward spiral
- Downward trend
- Downward pressure
- Downward mobility
These function as adjective-noun pairs, where "downward" modifies the noun. Even in British English, you wouldn't typically say "downwards spiral."
Examples in Context
- The hiker followed the downward path to the river. (adjective — both dialects)
- Prices have been moving downward for months. (American adverb)
- Prices have been moving downwards for months. (British adverb)
- A downward revision of the forecast surprised analysts. (adjective — both dialects)
The Takeaway
Neither form is wrong. "Downward" and "downwards" are interchangeable in meaning, and the choice comes down to regional convention. Pick the form that matches your audience and use it consistently.
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