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I would like to know which sentence is correct, regarding the difference between the usage of forward and toward.
Should I write:
I'm looking forward to September.
Or,
I'm looking toward September?

Thank you.

John Lawler
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Beverly Daros
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    You may find English Language Learners useful. – James Waldby - jwpat7 Jun 12 '13 at 17:03
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    Both are correct, but notice that the first one needs to, but the second one doesn't. Toward means motion or attention directed 'to; in the direction of' something that determines the direction, while forward means directing motion or attention 'in the direction a human normally faces'. So looking forward to September indicates that September is what you're anticipating (look forward to is an idiom that means 'anticipate with pleasure'), while looking toward September just means September is where your attention is focussed. – John Lawler Jun 12 '13 at 17:22

1 Answers1

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In British English (I don't know whether it's the same in other regions):

I'm looking forward to September.

This tends to mean that you are anticipating a good and/or enjoyable experience in (or beginning in) September. You may or may not be making plans or arrangements for the future event, but you are 'excited' about it.

I'm looking toward September.

This tends to mean that you are making plans or arrangements for whatever is going to happen in September. The forthcoming event may or may not be especially enjoyable: it could be neutral, it could be unpleasant, it could be enjoyable. But mainly you are making plans.

Note that I have described differences in the ways in which these expressions are used, and what they are often intended to imply: but there is no especial grammatical difference between the two.

TrevorD
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