Today's English lesson

From Common Errors In English:


Anyways

"Anyways" at the beginning of a sentence usually indicates that the speaker has resumed a narrative thread:

"Anyways, I told Matilda that guy was a lazy bum before she ever married him."

It also occurs at the end of phrases and sentences, meaning "in any case":

"He wasn't all that good-looking anyways."

A slightly less rustic quality can be imparted to these sentences by substituting the more formal anyway. Neither expression is a good idea in formal written English.

The two-word phrase "any way" has many legitimate uses, however:

"Is there any way to prevent the impending disaster?"