onward

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "onward" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adverb that means to continue forward or onward. For example, "We marched onward, determined to reach our destination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What would be the unique value of personally carrying another copy of materials onward?

The Guardian

But the Death Penalty Information Center, a leading chronicler of capital punishment trends in the US, notes in its annual review published on Thursday that the year was also marked by the onward decline of the controversial practice.

The Guardian

This did precisely nothing for core Labour voters in towns across Britain which once had economic hearts, but which now are characterised by decay and the onward march of Ukip.

The Guardian

The cafe attracted outrage in some quarters due to the price of cereal in an area with pockets of deep disadvantage, the sibling owners' hipster beards and the onward march of gentrification.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the case of Ecuador, it's also been fuelled by fury at Correa's decision to give asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who faces sexual assault allegations in Sweden, over the threat of onward extradition to the US.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the Qataris remained, by some distance, the largest foreign sovereign wealth buyers of real estate in London last year, and most analysts expect that to mark merely a temporary pause in their onward march.

The Guardian

So, instead, I caught the boat from Interlaken to Iseltwald, and spent a glorious hour or so walking along the lake shore to the falls; after a coffee in the grand hotel opposite, a ride on Europe's oldest funicular deposited me down at Giessbach dock in time to catch the onward boat to Brienz.

The Guardian - Travel

After having her temperature taken seven times, she was cleared to take her onward journey home to Glasgow where she became unwell overnight.

The Guardian

America's digital revolution marches on.Mr Powell's critics would counter that much of this onward marching is taking place in spite of the FCC's best efforts to impede it.

The Economist

Less idealistic Japanese at least hoped for respect and international clout.As Japan's economy limps onward, however, the country keeps finding fresh ways to lose friends and stop influencing people.

The Economist

The foreign minister, Ricardo Patiño, last month described the Swedish accusations as "hilarious", claiming that they were a ruse to facilitate Mr Assange's onward extradition to the United States, where he might face the death penalty.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "onward" to emphasize continuous movement or progression towards a specific goal or direction. For example, "The project moved onward despite the initial setbacks."

Common error

While both "onward" and "onwards" mean forward, "onward" typically functions as an adjective, while "onwards" is primarily an adverb. Use "onward" before nouns (e.g., "the onward journey") and "onwards" to modify verbs (e.g., "they marched onwards").

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "onward" is to act as an adverb or adjective, modifying verbs or nouns to indicate forward movement or progression. Ludwig provides examples where "onward" describes the direction of a journey or the continuation of a march.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "onward" is a versatile term functioning as both an adjective and an adverb to indicate forward movement or progress. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Its usage is most frequent in news and media, but it also appears in formal business and scientific contexts. While "onward" and "onwards" are related, it’s important to use them in their appropriate grammatical contexts: "onward" typically precedes nouns, while "onwards" modifies verbs. Alternatives like "forwards" or "ahead" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Forwards

Emphasizes physical direction and movement ahead.

Ahead

Highlights the direction in front, often implying progress.

Forth

Suggests movement outwards or into view.

In progression

Focuses on the continuous and sequential nature of the advancement.

Moving ahead

Highlights the active process of advancing, with an emphasis on progress.

Continuing

Emphasizes uninterrupted action.

Subsequently

Refers to something that follows in time or order.

Thereafter

Indicates a point in time that follows a specified event.

From then on

Specifies a temporal starting point for subsequent actions.

Going forward

Highlights future actions and planning.

FAQs

How can I use "onward" in a sentence?

You can use "onward" to describe movement or progress in a forward direction. For example, "The team continued its onward march toward success."

What can I say instead of "onward"?

You can use alternatives like "forwards", "ahead", or "forth" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "onward" or "onwards"?

"Onward" and "onwards" are both correct, but they have different grammatical roles. "Onward" is often used as an adjective, while "onwards" is typically an adverb.

What's the difference between "onward" and "forward"?

While both indicate direction, "onward" often suggests continuous or sustained movement, whereas "forward" simply indicates a direction in front.