go towards

USAGE SUMMARY

"go towards" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression which means to move in the direction of something. For example, "I went towards the store to buy some bread."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Your donation will go towards conservation work.

Independent

Proceeds will go towards paying Lehman's creditors.

The Economist

"Let's choose to go towards the better.

The Guardian

In total, $12.4bn will go towards infrastructure.

The Guardian

A further £5m would go towards improving infrastructure.

Independent

But not all this money would go towards fiscal discipline.

The Economist

Much of this will go towards supporting home ownership.

The Guardian

Any funds recouped will go towards communities and youth projects.

The Guardian

How far should a council go towards removing risk?

The Guardian - Opinion

I would go towards the end of performing".

The New York Times - Sports

All the profits go towards funding water projects in India.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "go towards" to clearly indicate movement or contribution in a specific direction. It is suitable for both literal and figurative contexts.

Common error

While both "toward" and "towards" are acceptable, be consistent in your usage within the same document. "Towards" is more common in British English.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go towards" functions primarily as a prepositional verb phrase, indicating movement or direction, either literally or figuratively. It shows where something is headed or what a particular effort is intended to benefit. Ludwig AI confirms that its usage is correct and frequent across a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Huffington Post

8%

TechCrunch

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "go towards" is a versatile phrase indicating movement, direction, or contribution. Ludwig AI confirms it's a grammatically sound and widely used expression. Its applications span from describing physical movements to explaining the allocation of resources. Predominantly featured in News & Media and Scientific publications, its neutral register makes it adaptable for various writing styles. When using the phrase, remember that either "toward" or "towards" is correct, but consistency is key. Alternatives such as "contribute to" or "head in the direction of" can provide nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move in the direction of

Highlights the physical act of progressing towards something.

head in the direction of

Emphasizes physical movement and intention towards a location.

contribute to

Focuses on providing assistance or resources, differing from the directional sense.

gravitate toward

Suggests a natural inclination or attraction, not necessarily a literal movement.

work toward

Focuses on effort being put in to achieve a goal.

be directed at

Focuses on the target or recipient of an action or effort.

lean toward

Suggests a preference or inclination, not necessarily a physical movement.

aim at

Implies a specific intention or goal, which can be abstract.

incline towards

Similar to 'lean toward', indicating a tendency or disposition.

make a contribution to

Highlights the act of giving or adding to something, removing the directional component.

FAQs

How can I use "go towards" in a sentence?

You can use "go towards" to indicate movement in a specific direction, as in "We should "go towards" the light" or to describe how resources are allocated, such as "The money will "go towards" the project".

What is a good alternative to "go towards"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "go towards" include phrases like "contribute to" (when discussing resources) or "head in the direction of" (when describing physical movement).

Is it correct to say "go toward" instead of "go towards"?

Yes, both "go toward" and "go towards" are grammatically correct, but "towards" is more common in British English. They both mean the same thing: to move or be directed in the direction of something.

What's the difference between "go towards" and "work towards"?

"Go towards" implies a direct movement or allocation in a specific direction, while "work towards" suggests a dedicated effort to achieve a long-term goal. For example, "The funds "go towards" immediate repairs," versus "We "work towards" a sustainable future".