Anyway or anyways which one should you use? If you have ever written a sentence and stopped to wonder whether “anyway” or “anyways” is correct, you are not alone. The two words look and sound very similar, and both appear in everyday English.
The good news is that the difference is fairly simple. Anyway is the standard form and is appropriate for formal and informal writing. Anyways is an informal variant, especially associated with spoken North American English. Cambridge Dictionary specifically describes anyways as an informal form of anyway.
In this guide, you will learn anyway vs. anyways, what each word means, when to use them, and which form is safer for essays, emails, professional writing, and everyday conversation.
Anyway vs. Anyways: The Quick Answer
Anyway is the standard choice in modern English.
Anyways is also used, particularly in informal speech and casual writing, but many style guides and dictionaries treat it as informal, nonstandard, or a variant of anyway. Cambridge lists it as “informal for anyway,” while Collins describes it as a nonstandard form.
| Word | Meaning | Typical use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyway | In any case; despite that; at any rate | Standard English | “It was raining, but we went anyway.” |
| Anyways | Informal form of anyway | Casual speech and informal writing | “Anyways, what were you saying?” |
| Any way | In any manner or by any method | Different grammatical construction | “You can solve it any way you like.” |
Simple rule: When you are unsure, choose anyway.
Why is “anyways” used?
Anyways has a long history of use and is not simply a random spelling mistake. Modern dictionaries recognize it as a variant of anyway. Cambridge, for example, labels it informal, while Oxford identifies it as an informal North American English form.
However, its level of acceptance depends on context and variety of English. That is why anyway remains the safer choice for formal writing.
What Does “Anyway” Mean?
The most common use of anyway is to show that something happened despite a previous fact or problem.
For example:
- It was cold, but we went outside anyway.
- I was tired, but I finished my homework anyway.
- She didn’t feel well, but she came to work anyway.
Here, anyway has a meaning similar to “despite that,” “nevertheless,” or “regardless.” Cambridge Grammar explains this use as referring to something happening in spite of reasons or situations already mentioned.
Anyway as a conversation marker
Anyway can also help speakers change subjects, return to an earlier point, or bring a conversation to an end.
For example:
“Anyway, let’s get back to the main topic.”
Other examples include:
- Anyway, what happened after that?
- Anyway, I need to leave now.
- Anyway, as I was saying, we have a meeting tomorrow.
Oxford lists this as one of the established uses of anyway.
Anyway can add emphasis
Sometimes anyway reinforces a statement or gives an additional reason.
For example:
- I don’t need another jacket anyway.
- We were planning to leave early anyway.
- It doesn’t matter anyway.
So, although anyway has several uses, its basic function is usually easy to recognize from context.
What Does “Anyways” Mean?
Yes. Anyways is a recognized English word, but its status is different from anyway.
Cambridge Dictionary defines anyways as an informal form of anyway. Dictionary.com calls it a nonstandard variant, and Collins similarly labels it nonstandard.
Therefore, saying that anyways is always a “misspelling” would be too simplistic. It is used naturally by English speakers, especially in informal contexts.
Examples include:
- Anyways, let’s talk about something else.
- I was going to call you anyways.
- We had already decided to go anyways.
When is “anyways” appropriate?
Anyways is most natural in casual conversation, informal messages, dialogue, and writing that intentionally reflects speech.
For example, a text message might say:
“Anyways, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
That sounds conversational and relaxed.
However, if you are writing an academic essay, business report, formal email, application, or professional article, anyway is generally the better choice.
Anyway or Anyways: Which Should You Use?
When the context requires standard written English, choose anyway.
For example:
- “The proposal was expensive; anyway, the company rejected it.”
- “I disagreed with the decision, but I followed the instructions anyway.”
- “Anyway, let’s return to the original question.”
This is especially useful for:
- Academic essays
- Business writing
- Professional emails
- Reports
- Formal articles
- Applications
- Resumes and cover letters
Use “anyways” in casual contexts
Anyways can work when the writing is intentionally conversational.
For example:
- “Anyways, what are you doing tonight?”
- “I didn’t really want to go anyways.”
- “Anyways, let’s forget about it.”
The choice can therefore communicate tone as well as grammar. Anyway works across formal and informal situations, while anyways has a more casual flavor.
“Any Way” Is Different From “Anyway”
One of the most important distinctions is between anyway and any way.
Any way is written as two words when any modifies the noun way. It generally means “in any manner,” “by any method,” or “through whatever method is available.”
Examples:
- You can solve the problem any way you want.
- Is there any way to contact him?
- I will help you in any way I can.
- We need to find any way to finish the project.
A useful test is to see whether “in the way” or a similar phrase makes sense in the sentence. Dictionary.com also distinguishes the two-word phrase from the one-word adverb anyway.
Compare the three forms
Consider these examples:
Anyway:
“I was tired, but I went to the party anyway.”
Meaning: I went despite being tired.
Anyways:
“Anyways, let’s talk about the party.”
Meaning: Anyway, let’s change or return to the topic.
Any way:
“You can arrange the chairs any way you like.”
Meaning: in whatever manner you like.
The meanings are related historically, but their grammatical roles are different.
A Real-Life Example: Choosing the Right Word
Imagine that Sara is writing an email to her manager after a project deadline has changed.
Her first draft says:
“Anyways, the deadline has changed, so I will send the report on Monday.”
The sentence is understandable, and there is nothing confusing about its meaning. However, because this is a professional email, Sara decides to use the more standard form:
“Anyway, the deadline has changed, so I will send the report on Monday.”
The change is small, but the second version fits professional written English more comfortably.
Now imagine Sara is texting a friend:
“Anyways, the deadline changed, so I don’t have to finish it tonight!”
In this casual conversation, anyways can sound perfectly natural because the speaker is using an informal conversational style.
This illustrates an important point: the question is not simply whether one form can ever be used. Context matters. Anyways appears in real English, including contemporary published and spoken material, but major learner dictionaries identify it as informal. Anyway is the more broadly appropriate choice because it works naturally in both formal and informal contexts.
What Current Usage Data Shows
There is no single authoritative 2025–2026 statistic that says what percentage of English speakers use anyway versus anyways. Frequency varies by country, corpus, genre, and whether the data represents speech or writing.
However, a September 2026 FrequencyWords-based index analyzed by PlainSpell places anyway at frequency rank #1,293 and anyways at #6,650 among English words. This indicates that anyway is substantially more common in that particular frequency dataset. These are corpus-style rankings, not a measurement of how many people use each word, so they should not be interpreted as a percentage of speakers.
Research on regional English also shows that usage can vary. A corpus study of different English varieties found meaningful differences in the frequency and positioning of anyway, while Canadian and Philippine English showed notable use of the anyways variant.
The practical takeaway is straightforward: anyway is the more broadly useful standard form, while anyways has a stronger informal and regional association.
Common Mistakes With Anyway and Anyways
Mistake 1: Treating “anyways” as always incorrect
It is too broad to say that anyways is never a word. Major dictionaries recognize it, although they mark it as informal or nonstandard depending on the dictionary.
Mistake 2: Using “anyways” in formal writing
Although readers will usually understand it, anyways can sound unnecessarily informal in professional or academic writing.
Better:
“Anyway, we should continue with the original plan.”
Mistake 3: Confusing “anyway” with “any way”
Remember:
- Anyway = in any case / despite that
- Anyways = informal form of anyway
- Any way = in any manner or by any method
This three-way distinction solves most confusion.
Anyway vs. Anyways: A Simple Decision Guide
Step 1: Ask what you mean.
If you mean “in any case,” “regardless,” “despite that,” or you are changing the subject, you probably need anyway or informal anyways.
Step 2: Check the context.
If it is formal or professional, choose anyway.
Step 3: If it is casual dialogue, either may appear, but anyways creates a more informal tone.
Step 4: Check whether any modifies way.
If the meaning is “in any manner,” use any way as two words.
Quick checklist
- Formal essay → anyway
- Business email → anyway
- Academic writing → anyway
- Professional article → anyway
- Casual conversation → anyway or informal anyways
- Casual dialogue → anyways can work
- “In any manner” → any way
FAQs
Q1: Is “anyways” grammatically correct?
A: Anyways is a recognized informal variant of anyway. Major dictionaries document it, but its status is more informal or nonstandard than anyway.
Q2: Is “anyway” more correct than “anyways”?
A: For standard formal English, anyway is the safer choice. Anyways is commonly used informally, particularly in North American English.
Q3: Can I use “anyways” in an essay?
A: You generally should prefer anyway in an academic essay unless you are intentionally reproducing dialogue or a particular speaker’s informal style.
Q4: Is “anyways” American or British?
A: Anyways occurs in both varieties, but dictionaries particularly associate its informal use with North American English. Oxford labels it an informal North American English form, while Cambridge marks it as informal US usage.
Q5: What is the difference between “anyway” and “any way”?
A: Anyway is an adverb meaning something like “in any case” or “despite that.” Any way is a two-word phrase meaning “in any manner” or “by any method.”
For example:
“I went anyway.”
versus:
“You can do it any way you like.”
Q6: Is “anyways” a misspelling?
A: Not necessarily. It is a documented variant of anyway. However, because it is informal or nonstandard in many dictionary descriptions, anyway is the safer spelling for standard formal writing.
Q7: Which one should I use in professional writing?
A: Use anyway. It is the standard form and avoids the informal tone associated with anyways.
Conclusion:
So, anyway or anyways which should you choose?
In most situations, anyway is the best default. It is the standard form used to mean “in any case,” “despite that,” or to move a conversation back to another subject. Anyways is a recognized but more informal variant, especially common in casual speech and conversational writing.
Also remember that any way is different: it means “in any manner” or “by any method.”
If you are writing an essay, professional email, report, website article, or other formal content, choose anyway. If you are writing casual dialogue or a relaxed message, anyways may fit the conversational tone.
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Zia Ahmad is the founder of GrammarClear, an educational platform dedicated to making English grammar simple and easy to understand. Through clear explanations and practical examples, he aims to help learners improve their grammar, writing, and communication skills with confidence.
