Anyways or Anyway

Richard   Friday, November 14, 2003, 23:29 GMT
Which is correct?
Sima   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 00:35 GMT
I think "anyway" is correct.
I hear "anyways" in Canada. Even my English teachers use "anyways" in their conversations. However, according to Oxford American Dictionary anyways is incorrect.
Jacob   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 01:26 GMT
"Anyway" is correct. The other is just bad form; avoid it.
Boy   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 02:23 GMT
Anyhow is another variation.
Clark   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 02:31 GMT
Anyways, Jacob! In America, we use both forms. More so we use "anyways." Both are correct in America and probably Canada. As for other English-speaking countries, I haven't a clue.
Richard   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 03:17 GMT
Do you mean by ''I haven't a clue'' ''I have no clue''?
Californian   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 03:34 GMT
Why not ANYHOO? (Chris Farley from SNL) that's what I say. LOL seriously!
wassabi   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 04:02 GMT
for canadians we generally say anyways, but it's technically spelt anyway.
Pentatonic   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 04:26 GMT
Correct is anyway. "Way" has to be singular to work with "any". "Any ways", "no ways", just doesn't work.
Clark   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 05:37 GMT
Richard, it is just a different way of saying what you said.
or you could say..   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 06:56 GMT
"anyroad" like they do in Scotland!
mjd   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 07:46 GMT
I always say "anyway"....never "anyways."
zi   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 10:18 GMT
Pentatonic
and is "any questions ?" incorrect ? because I heard that in American movies. Like a teacher asking his students : "Any questions there ?"
Is "No questions !" the answer ?
Sorry for these questions which may seem stupid to an English speaker.
Jacob   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 11:57 GMT
Yes; I'm American myself, so I'm familiar with it. It's common, but you'll find it listed as "nonstandard" in any dictionary. And it introduces confusion, because "any way" can NOT become "any ways", so if an ESL learner wants to acquire this substandard term for some reason, then he'll have to fuss with remembering the difference between two easily confused forms. Better just to stick with the universally acceptable one.

As far as I can tell, "anyways", when it occurs, is either a regionalism, or a self-conscious attempt to sound more folksy in one's speech. Neither way of looking at it makes it seem desirable for an ESL learner.
Jacob   Saturday, November 15, 2003, 12:00 GMT
"Any questions?" is correct and common. It's shortened from the full sentence, "Are there any questions?". If a teacher asks this in class (trust me) there will either be silence, or someone will go ahead and ask a question.