tends toward vs tends towards

Both "tends toward" and "tends towards" are correct, but "tends toward" is more commonly used in American English, while "tends towards" is more common in British English. The choice between the two depends on the regional variant of English being used.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1099 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in American English.

"tends toward"

This phrase is used to indicate a general direction or inclination towards something.

Examples:

The data tends toward supporting the hypothesis.
Her behavior tends toward being overly cautious.

Show examples from the web [+]

But in foreign policy the Right tends toward an economy of concepts.
Spain tends towards imitation rather than originality.
...tend toward a trio of shooters.
The Italians tend towards sentiment in such matters.
A mother that tends towards addiction, David Clarke, and you...
Here, our efforts should tend towards certain effective measures.
He doesn't tend toward forcible entry.
His asking a second time tends towards oppressive questioning.
In many cases, schemes aiming solely at assurance will tend toward a compliance mentality with a use of sanctions.
Therefore the second criterion admits only those markets whose structure does not tend towards effective competition within the relevant time horizon.
Here what I say: I'd even tend towards a double round-robin tournament.
I mean, the tone does tend towards the improper.
Because I know I tend towards the fashion forward, but great leaders need to be focused on the future.
I guess I do tend toward the look of a uniform.
Use of the plural 'women' is also generally preferred from a feminist point of view, being more specific and avoiding abstractions, which tend towards idealisation.
It's been pointed out to me that I tend towards onomatopoeia.
As you can see, Brazil's imagery tends towards zoophilia... while Italy favors nuns and priests.
I hope you don't tend toward sulkiness.
Some in Europe even tend towards adopting a similar attitude, and we can see the disastrous impact this has in Asia.
Some of these plans tend towards protectionism, which gives rise to the following questions.

Alternatives:

leans toward
inclines toward
points toward
is inclined toward
is biased toward

This phrase is correct and commonly used in British English.

"tends towards"

This phrase is used to indicate a general direction or inclination towards something.

Examples:

The discussion tends towards a resolution.
His writing style tends towards the poetic.

Show examples from the web [+]

Right now the law tends towards something more religious, but we'll see what happens when we go from growing celebrity cell steaks to growing complete celebrity bodies.
Spain tends towards imitation rather than originality.
The Council accepts this amendment in principle, yet it tends towards the position that a separate report by the Commission on this article is not necessary and the substance could well be covered by the general report as required in Article 53a (now: Article 67).
Their creation is currently being threatened by the rigours of case-law, which tends towards having two calls for competition when allocating work, something that is likely to seal the fate of semi-public companies.
A mother that tends towards addiction, David Clarke, and you...
Furthermore, this system naturally tends towards the establishment of a private monopoly and distortions of competition due to confusion between the differing functions of infrastructures and banks.
Let us build a political Europe which, while never denying its history and taking into account the constraints of modernity, tends towards an ideal of freedom and not of uniformity.
The same law can be applied in a humane manner, with due respect for human rights, or it can be applied in a way which tends towards isolation and solitary confinement.
this curve changes as a result of wear and generally tends towards a constant shape, whose measurement requires the use of high precision methods for establishing equivalent conicity.
That is why - I shall finish here - our fear is that this proposal for a directive tends towards unnecessary reverse extremism, and the cure could prove worse than the original problem.
So it is that the measures you are presenting here do not ensure that help is speedily given to real refugees under the Geneva Convention, but rather incite the use of asylum for immigration by economic migrants, and that tends towards its misuse.
This requirement follows the statement in Article 3(3) of the treaty that the internal market shall be constructed through policies based on a social market economy which is highly competitive and which tends towards full employment and social progress.
I must admit that the Irish Presidency's initial reaction tends towards the first position, whereas the stance adopted by a number of foreign ministers in their statements leaned towards the second.
Even when a market is characterised by high barriers to entry, other structural factors in that market may mean that the market tends towards an effectively competitive outcome within the relevant time horizon.
As rapporteur for the European impact assessment, I will also certainly opt for an approach that tends towards an independent assessment.
Moreover, the proposed system promotes better-coordinated European action and tends towards harmonising practices at Community level.
1.6 Moreover, the proposed system promotes better-coordinated European action and tends towards harmonising practices at Community level. This goes some way towards deepening concerted EU action at a time of widespread condemnation of shortcomings in this area.
His asking a second time tends towards oppressive questioning.
As you can see, Brazil's imagery tends towards zoophilia... while Italy favors nuns and priests.
But I believe that they are very important, not only because of their historical and cultural role, but because they are a symbol of liberty, because they are manageable areas in a Europe that so often tends towards a mania for the huge and spectacular.

Alternatives:

leans towards
inclines towards
points towards
is inclined towards
is biased towards

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tends toward vs tends towards

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