forwards to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forwards to" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "forward to." You can use "forward to" when expressing anticipation or eagerness about something that will happen in the future.
Example: "I am looking forward to our meeting next week."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Rather, it was a night for other forwards to shine.

The New York Times

This will require Australia's forwards to buy them some room.

The Guardian - Sport

Hopefully it will push us forwards to better things".

The Guardian - Sport

All four elite events can be thrown forwards to London.

The Guardian - Sport

Actually, what invariably happens is that defenders grab forwards to deny goal scoring opportunities.

The New York Times - Sports

I walked about seven kilometres that day, just going backwards and forwards to the oche".

The New Yorker

I cannot travel backwards and forwards to and from Bedfordshire on late nights," she wrote.

Independent

Geraldine McCaughrean's highly acclaimed sequel fast forwards to 1929 and explores just that.

The Guardian

Her students are too busy projecting themselves forwards to spend time dwelling on the past.

The Guardian - Books

But its subject-matter points forwards to the Gill and Morris books.

The Guardian

Talk about speed, you are always challenging your forwards to use speed against the defense".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the correct form, "forward to", when expressing anticipation or direction. For example, "I look forward to hearing from you soon" is correct, while "I look forwards to hearing from you soon" is incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using "forwards" when "forward" is grammatically correct. "Forwards" implies physical movement, while "forward" indicates direction, advancement, or anticipation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forwards to" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating direction or movement towards a specific location or destination. This can be seen in examples provided by Ludwig. However, it is often used incorrectly when the correct form should be 'forward to'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

6%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "forwards to" is frequently encountered, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "forward to", particularly when expressing anticipation. As Ludwig AI indicates, common errors involve confusing "forwards" with "forward", which has distinct meanings. Use "forward" for direction, advancement, or anticipation. Although "forwards to" appears across various sources, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki, sticking to "forward to" ensures grammatical correctness in both formal and informal contexts. Consider alternatives like "transmits to" or "relays to" depending on the context for more precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

transmits to

Replaces "forwards" with a more technical term, suitable for describing data or signal transfer.

relays to

Similar to "transmits to" but implies a staged process where information is passed along.

routes to

Implies a planned or designated path for something being sent.

redirects to

Specifically means to send something to a different destination than originally intended.

sends to

A more general term for causing something to go to another place.

directs to

Suggests guiding something towards a destination.

passes on to

Indicates the transfer of something, often information, to another party.

refers to

Implies a connection or linkage to another subject or item.

defers to

Suggests yielding or submitting to another's decision or authority.

points to

Indicates a direction or focus towards something.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "forward to" or "forwards to"?

The correct form is "forward to". "Forwards" suggests a physical movement, while "forward" indicates direction or anticipation. Therefore, use "forward to" when expressing anticipation about something.

What can I say instead of "looking forwards to"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipating", "eager for", or "awaiting" depending on the context.

When should I use "forward" instead of "forwards"?

"Forward" should be used when indicating direction (e.g., move forward) or anticipation (e.g., look forward to). "Forwards" is generally used to describe a physical movement, though it's less common and often replaced by "forward" even in that context.

Is "forward to" always the best alternative to "forwards to"?

While "forward to" is generally the grammatically correct choice when you intend to express anticipation of something, other alternatives like "anticipate", or "await" might be more appropriate depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.