Anyway versus Anyways versus Any Way

My partner gave me a coffee mug that boldly states, “I am silently correcting your grammar.”

As a linguist, one thing that causes me to cringe is the use of anyways. I was taught that there is no such thing as a plural of anyway.

However, anyways has made its way into our oral language and is making its way into our written documents as well.

The website WritingExplained.org has a chart showing the lack of use of “anyways,” but there is no citation as from where this information comes.

It says, “Anyway is the more common of the two words and educated writers and speakers use it almost exclusively.”

From my observations, this is partially false and anyways has wormed its way into our daily conversations.

I do not believe it matters what economic status one maintains or education level, anyways has now become part of our daily language.

Both words are adverbs. For those who were not English majors, an adverb modifies the meaning of a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a preposition, a phrase, a clause, or a sentence. Adverbs help define time, frequency, duration, manner, place, degree, or purpose.

Because of the nature of the two words and the evolution of American English, they are almost interchangeable depending on how formal you wish to be. In a formal setting, anyway is the proper term. In an informal setting, either is now acceptable.

Any way is a term used to denote direction, amount or manner. As Journey sings, “Any way you want it, that’s the way you need it.” (Now try to get that song out of your head.)

“Anyway, she was not a happy camper” is proper.

“Anyways, she was not a happy camper” is slang or informal.

“Any way you tried, she was not a happy camper” modifies tried.

Anyway is always acceptable. Anyways is slang and used mostly in informal settings. Any way is a descriptor for a course, number, direction or manner.

Are you still hearing that Journey song in your head?

Thank you WritingExplained.org for the graphic.