Anyway or Anyways or Any Way | Difference & Use

Anyway and anyways mean the same thing. But “any way” (two words) has a different meaning.

• The adverb anyway means “regardless” or “in spite of that.”
• Anyways is an informal way of saying “anyway.”
• Any way is the determiner “any” followed by the noun “way.”

Anyway and anyways

Anyways is an informal way of saying anyway in American English. Use “anyway” (not “anyways”) in formal writing and speech (e.g., at job interviews). QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences to make them more formal.

As well as meaning “regardless” or “in spite of that,” “anyway” and “anyways” are also used as discourse markers to help manage the flow of conversations (e.g., to signal a change of topic or end a conversation).

Any way (two words)

The determiner “any” is often used before the word “way.” These are two separate words (i.e., it is incorrect to write “anyway” in sentences like these).

Frequently asked questions about anyway or anyways or any way

Is anyways a word?

Anyways is an alternative to the adverb “anyway” used in informal American English (e.g., “Anyways, what did you do on the weekend?”).

It is best to avoid it in formal speech and writing (e.g., job interviews).

You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help make sure that you’re using words like “anyways” in an appropriate context.

What is a synonym for anyway?

“Anyhow” is a very close synonym for anyway or anyways.

Other synonyms for “anyway” include:

• Regardless
• Nevertheless
• In spite of that
• Nonetheless

Try the QuillBot Paraphraser to find the perfect synonym for “anyway” in your specific context.