Forward vs foreword
Forward usually means ahead, in the direction you are going or facing. A foreword is a short section at the start of a book.
Foreword has the word word in it. It is words that come before the book.
forward adverb
Ahead, in the direction you are going or facing.
- She stepped forward to receive her prize.
- The line of cars moved forward slowly.
foreword noun
A short section at the start of a book, often written by someone other than the author.
- The foreword was written by the author's old teacher.
- The new edition has a foreword by a famous chef.
Watch out
- Forward is also a verb. It means to send a letter or message you received on to someone else.She forwarded the invoice to the accounting department.
- Forward can also be a noun for a soccer player who plays near the other goal and tries to score.The coach pulled a forward and added a defender to protect the lead.
- Forward and foreword sound very much alike, and many speakers say them exactly the same. So let the meaning guide your spelling.
Test yourself
Please take one step blank.
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forward. This means move ahead, so use forward.
The blank to the novel was written by her best friend.
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foreword. This is the section at the start of a book, so use foreword.
Can you blank this email to the rest of the team?
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forward. To send a message on to others is the verb forward.
The famous poet agreed to write a short blank for the new book.
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foreword. This is an opening section for a book, so use foreword.