Foreword and forward are often listed as homophones, but whether this is true for your own speech probably depends on regional variations. I pronounce them differently, but I believe that when spoken in some other (particularly American) accents they sound the same.
Foreword
- an introductory statement to a book
Forward
- directed, travelling or moving ahead
- at, in, near or towards the front
- onward in order to make progress
- bold, disrespectful or overfamiliar
- well developed or advanced
- of or relating to the future or favouring change
- an attacking player in various sports
- towards or at a place ahead or in advance
- to send on to a destination
- to advance or promote
My tip: a foreword is composed using words.
Sources:
Hannah McCall 
How interesting! I never thought twice about the pronunciation being different – or the same. Here in Canada (Quebec province) we pronounce it the same. What country are you in, Hannah, where you say it differently? And is the difference in the “a” vs. the “o” sounds? (I would imagine so!)
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How interesting right back at you! I’m going to listen out for Canadians saying ‘forward’ and ‘foreword’ in the future. I’m a Brit, living in southern England and speaking with what is probably an estuary accent. I say ‘four-word’ (foreword) and ‘forwood’ (forward).
EDIT: It’s probably more like ‘four-wurd’ actually.
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Once had a bf from Hastings. Near you? Delightful accent! What is an “estuary” accent?
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Same region but a couple of hours away. Estuary is common in London and the south-east. UCL has a good resource on it here: http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/estuary/home.htm . I don’t use a glottal stop for my Ts though so my accent isn’t a textbook version. (It’s strange dissecting your own speech!)
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Interesting! Would I, do you think, perceive the accent as educated? (I don’t mean snobbish; just not, well cockney, which we know from certain movies featuring 19th-century “guttersnipes”! 😀 ) Thanks for the link!
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I think it has a spectrum of its own, but you would probably perceive it as more “educated” than cockney but less “educated” than RP. (But I am in no way an expert.)
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