-ward / -wards
The ending -ward, with and without the s.
In American English, words such as toward, forward, upward, onward, and afterward end in -ward, with no s. The British form takes the s.
See also toward / towards; backward / backwards.
Examples
Use The hikers turned toward the ridge as the light faded.
Use Afterward, the jury asked to see the floor plan again.
Avoid The hikers turned towards the ridge as the light faded. (Change towards to toward.)
Avoid Afterwards, the jury asked to see the floor plan again. (Change Afterwards to Afterward.)