Confusing I guess, I always assumed “anyways” to be a different word (grammatically) without ever having a clear idea with one being an adverb, what the other could be… clownface
interesting that etymology of the word explains the origin of both forms - “in any way” vs. “any ways” - which makes sense to my ears, as “in” only fits a singular way “in a way”, not “in a ways”.
Which also means that both are grammatically correct but it makes it understandable how some people would prefer the “anyways” form with the “in” word no longer being used.
Personally, I would definitely use anyway here, where it stands for “even so.” I might be more likely to say “Anyways, I’ll say goodbye now because I have to pick up my kids” where it’s really just transitional. (Anyhow or the very informal anyhoo could be used that way as well.)
In sentences where it means “in any case” such as, “I can drop your books at the library, I was going there for Drag Queen Story Hour anyway” I wouldn’t add the s but if someone did I wouldn’t notice.
Yeah, after posting it occurred to me how I would describe the two different ways in which I use the word:
“one way or another”, “that being said” / “further” -> your example “Anyways, I’ll say goodbye now […]”
“despite that” / “nevertheless” -> “Junk food is not healthy, but I’m gonna have a burger anyway[s]”
to which you added a third meaning(?) which, now that I try to describe it in other words, also appears to me as best translated with
3) “one way or another” / “this is happening independently of what is currently being discussed” -> your example “I was going there fore Drag Queen Story Hour anyway”
Confusing I guess, I always assumed “anyways” to be a different word (grammatically) without ever having a clear idea with one being an adverb, what the other could be… clownface
It’s a very old phrase in English that was corrupted to what it is. “In any way” regardless of the circumstances.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/anyway#:~:text=anyway (adv.),%2B way (n.).
interesting that etymology of the word explains the origin of both forms - “in any way” vs. “any ways” - which makes sense to my ears, as “in” only fits a singular way “in a way”, not “
in a ways”.Which also means that both are grammatically correct but it makes it understandable how some people would prefer the “anyways” form with the “in” word no longer being used.
Personally, I would definitely use anyway here, where it stands for “even so.” I might be more likely to say “Anyways, I’ll say goodbye now because I have to pick up my kids” where it’s really just transitional. (Anyhow or the very informal anyhoo could be used that way as well.) In sentences where it means “in any case” such as, “I can drop your books at the library, I was going there for Drag Queen Story Hour anyway” I wouldn’t add the s but if someone did I wouldn’t notice.
There! That’s much more confusing, isn’t it?
Yeah, after posting it occurred to me how I would describe the two different ways in which I use the word:
“one way or another”, “that being said” / “further” -> your example “Anyways, I’ll say goodbye now […]”
“despite that” / “nevertheless” -> “Junk food is not healthy, but I’m gonna have a burger anyway[s]”
to which you added a third meaning(?) which, now that I try to describe it in other words, also appears to me as best translated with 3) “one way or another” / “this is happening independently of what is currently being discussed” -> your example “I was going there fore Drag Queen Story Hour anyway”