Och aye, but aren't the last two American pronunciations rather than folks wot can't speak proper?

Going back to the original query of backward vs backwards, which is how I ended up here incidentally, down 'ere in the west countreee we add the "s" to everything. I'm currently editing a novel which is destined for both a British and American audience, so I'm happy to go with "s" for the adverb and go "s"-less for the adjective.

My particular problem was with "sent him tumbling backwards". I've been removing "s"s left right and centre (center), but that just doesn't sound right without one!

I am in the nuthouse with you and the squirrels jodada. All of those words you mention were grounds for divorce after 17 years of grammatical torture! Not to mention "cutle-ry" (instead of cut-lery)!!