My Pet Peeve

Towards is not a word.
There are no ifs ands or buts, towards is not a word. In no instance is it correct to use that foul word. I have looked this one up in the AP Stylebook, the dictionary and Writing for the Technical Professions (the book we use for the scientific writing class), and all three sources state that toward should be used in all instances.
This is my pet peeve because it is so simple. There is nothing confusing about it, yet so many people, journalists included, use it incorrectly. It is now my mission to educate every student of mine about this quirky little irritant.
Similarly, regard, forward, and backward should also be used without the s. The only instance I can think of when an s is appropriate would be if you were sending your regards. "Send your mother my best regards," for example, is correct. In regard to all other references, do not put an s on the end of the word. I know saying backward and forward sound awkward, but they are also correct.
I could not find references on backward, forward and regard, so I my information came from Robert Wernsman, the news writing instructor. I consider him as reliable a reference as the AP Stylebook, and I consider his information as writers' law.