# backward vs backwards

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### backward
*adjective · IPA /ˈbæk.wə(ɹ)d/ · frequency rank #10,986*
Indicating position or direction.

### backwards
*adjective · IPA /ˈbækwɜːdz/ · frequency rank #6,655*
Synonym of backward; see usage notes there.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/backward-vs-backwards