During a recent viewing of the quick-witted comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, I was struck by an interesting thought. It didn’t have anything to do with how the improv performers have maintained stamina for 21 seasons (though I wonder that, too), but it was about the show’s title. I questioned why the word “anyways” pops up in everyday conversation instead of the more traditional “anyway,” as used in the show’s name. It got me thinking: Is “anyways” wrong? Or maybe this is a case of “tomayto, tomahto,” and “anyways” is a harmless colloquial twist. I did some lexicographical sleuthing, and what I discovered was a surprising truth that spans centuries.
“Anyway” is the standard, formal version of the word. This useful adverb means “in any case” or “without regard to other considerations.” The latter definition applies in this context: “She had already had enough caffeine today, but she drank the coffee anyway.” It can also signify an additional consideration or a shift in thought: “I’ll call a taxi since we missed the train, and anyway, we won’t have to walk as far now.”
The alternate spelling, “anyways,” retains the same meaning and is listed in Merriam-Webster as a dialectical or informal U.S. spelling of “anyway.” Consider it a less formal but still acceptable version of “anyway.” You’ll often see it used this way: “We had enough volunteers, but he showed up anyways.” It might seem like a modern slang-like usage, but it’s been around since the early 13th century (about as long as “anyway”) in the sense of “in any manner or respect.” Even though the spelling “anyways” has been documented with regular use for centuries, it seems to persist as one of those words that strike some people as “wrong.” We’ll let the Merriam-Webster blog editors take it from here:
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