anyhow

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "anyhow" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "in any case" or "in any event," as in: We were running late, but we got there anyhow.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He ran it anyhow, and told me she had agreed to it.

The Guardian - Opinion

The police refused and went to take the photo anyhow.

The Guardian

When I asked her if this was true, she said that she told Donovan that she wasn't comfortable with it, but he persisted, telling her it was bound to come out anyhow and she was better off letting him report it than someone else.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was an anyhow streetscape, built for hard work and proletarian scraping, utterly different from the glittering, gridded uptown.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was an independent beast, anyhow, and well-known far and wide.

The Guardian

When he was making this claim I'm not sure that what he had in mind was the fecund yummy mummies of the royal borough of Kingston, but it seems appropriate anyhow, in the hour or so that follows, that his thoughts on the future feminisation of the planet should occasionally be threatened to be overwhelmed by women talking over voluble babies.

The Guardian - Music

Not yet, anyhow.

The Economist

But she wrote anyhow.

The Guardian

Not with me inside it, anyhow: I was forcibly removed (at this stage staying inside seemed the better idea) and left in a small room and waited until it came back.

The Economist

They tend to be obscure, old-fashioned systems that are incompatible with Internet technology anyhow.

The Economist

My only add is to wonder, given the proportion of luxury goods that are made in China these days, what hope the US could ever have of interdicting trade between adjacent countries that kind of like one another anyhow.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "anyhow" to smoothly transition between related ideas or to indicate that a following statement remains true despite previous information. It's effective for casual writing and speech, adding a conversational tone.

Common error

Avoid overusing "anyhow" in formal or academic writing, as it can come across as too informal or conversational. Opt for more formal alternatives like "nevertheless" or "in any case" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "anyhow" is as an adverb, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that something is happening regardless of a preceding statement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in various contexts, from informal conversation to news reporting.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "anyhow" functions to express 'in any case' or 'regardless', adding a conversational touch across diverse contexts. As Ludwig AI shows, it's prevalent in News & Media, Encyclopedias and Science. Although grammatically sound, "anyhow" is better suited for informal or neutral settings, with more formal alternatives available for academic or business writing. While "anyhow" and "anyway" are virtually interchangeable, keep context in mind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anyway

This alternative is a more common synonym for "anyhow".

in any case

This alternative is a more formal way of saying "anyhow".

regardless

This alternative emphasizes the lack of impact from previous conditions.

nevertheless

This alternative implies a contrast despite a preceding statement.

nonetheless

Similar to 'nevertheless', but can feel slightly more formal.

in any event

This alternative emphasizes that the outcome will be the same.

at any rate

This alternative suggests a conclusion or summary of previous statements.

despite that

This alternative highlights a contrast or unexpected result.

even so

This alternative indicates a qualification or concession.

still

This alternative implies that something continues despite obstacles.

FAQs

How can I use "anyhow" in a sentence?

"Anyhow" can be used to mean "in any case" or "nevertheless". For example, "It was raining, but we went to the park "anyhow"".

What's a less casual alternative to "anyhow"?

If you're looking for a less casual alternative to "anyhow", consider using phrases like "nevertheless", "nonetheless", or "in any case".

Is there a difference between "anyhow" and "anyway"?

The words "anyhow" and "anyway" are generally interchangeable. However, "anyway" is slightly more common in contemporary usage.

When is it appropriate to use "anyhow"?

It's appropriate to use "anyhow" in informal conversations or writing when you want to indicate that something is happening regardless of previous circumstances or as a way to change the subject. In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "however" or "regardless".