# What is this new use of the word "anymore"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389 "2012-04-10T17:54:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/1 "2012-04-10T17:54:19Z")
Has the word “anymore” added a new meaning while I wasn’t looking? I’ve been noticing this for quite some time but thought it was people being stupid in a ‘lose-loose’ kind of way. But today I saw these three strange uses of the word ‘anymore’ on three different sites by three different people: “Can’t believe I’m saying this but Illinois looks better in comparison to Wisconsin anymore.” “The sad thing is that anymore, it’s hard to tell.” “It makes me slightly wistful and melancholy to see someone use the term “MSM” in a non-ironic way anymore.” Is it just me or is the word ‘anymore’ picking up a new meaning that I’m not grasping? Have you seen this? And what is it that the word ‘anymore’ is trying to convey in these sentences? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/2 "2012-04-10T17:57:39Z")
It’s the grammar that’s wrong. “Anymore” is working here as a stand-in for “these days”, which is what it means, but the phrasing should be: “Can’t believe I’m saying this, but Wisconsin isn’t worse than Illinois anymore.” “The sad thing is that it’s hard to tell anymore.” “It makes me slightly wistful and melancholy that people don’t ues the term “MSM” ironically anymore.” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/3 "2012-04-10T18:04:39Z")
Well, thanks **Diane**. That kind of makes sense. And, BTW, this post almost included you saying exactly what I think about this use of anymore-- that it is wrongwrongwrongallfuckingkindsofwrong-- good thing I previewed! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/4 "2012-04-10T18:05:23Z")
I’ve been noticing people do this a lot anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/5 "2012-04-10T18:06:46Z")
[Earlier discussion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=164410). My 1990 Merriam-Webster indicates that that usage is regional, but apparently it has been metastasizing. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/6 "2012-04-10T18:11:41Z")
[Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_English#Grammar) you go. As a native speaker, I see nothing that needs fixed here. It doesn’t bother me whenever they say it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/7 "2012-04-10T18:15:59Z")
The useage is hardly new. People have been saying it for a long time anymore. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/8 "2012-04-10T18:16:16Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Well, thanks **Diane**. That kind of makes sense. And, BTW, this post almost included you saying exactly what I think about this use of anymore-- that it is wrongwrongwrongallfuckingkindsofwrong-- good thing I previewed! Heh. Yeah, after I posted that, I realized that it could easily be interpreted as the definition being wrongwrongwrongallfuckingkindsofwrong, as opposed to the usage. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/9 "2012-04-10T18:17:53Z")
I use this construction. Not all the time, but sometimes. I enjoy the sort of misstepped folksyish way it sounds. It reminds me of (a subset of) the ways the word “ya” is used in Spanish. Do you actually have trouble understanding the idea behind the sentences you posted, or are you just chuffed that the writers aren’t conforming to your idea of proper English? I realize we’re getting into prescriptivist/descriptivist territory and that people use similar arguments to excuse the (inexcusable) practice of text-speek encroaching into formal writing, but I like this one, so I’ll defend it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/10 "2012-04-10T18:20:28Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > [Earlier discussion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=164410). My 1990 Merriam-Webster indicates that that usage is regional, but apparently it has been metastasizing. 2003! It’s taken me eight years to notice this. Perhaps, in accordance with **Chessic’s** cite, we can blame this creeping menace on the spread of Santorum across the country. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/11 "2012-04-10T18:24:28Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I use this construction. Not all the time, but sometimes. I enjoy the sort of misstepped folksyish way it sounds. It reminds me of (a subset of) the ways the word “ya” is used in Spanish. > > Do you actually have trouble understanding the idea behind the sentences you posted, or are you just chuffed that the writers aren’t conforming to your idea of proper English? I realize we’re getting into prescriptivist/descriptivist territory and that people use similar arguments to excuse the (inexcusable) practice of text-speek encroaching into formal writing, but I like this one, so I’ll defend it. As a native speaker of British English I’m puzzled by your use of the word “chuffed” here. It means "pleased " to me, is that what you intended? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/12 "2012-04-10T18:26:53Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I use this construction. Not all the time, but sometimes. I enjoy the sort of misstepped folksyish way it sounds. It reminds me of (a subset of) the ways the word “ya” is used in Spanish. > > Do you actually have trouble understanding the idea behind the sentences you posted, or are you just chuffed that the writers aren’t conforming to your idea of proper English? I realize we’re getting into prescriptivist/descriptivist territory and that people use similar arguments to excuse the (inexcusable) practice of text-speek encroaching into formal writing, but I like this one, so I’ll defend it. I actually did not understand what in the hell they meant by it. How does something happen in an anymore way? Seriously, until Diane pointed out it is being used in place of ‘nowadays’ I was baffled. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/13 "2012-04-10T18:27:40Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > 2003! It’s taken me eight years to notice this. Perhaps, in accordance with **Chessic’s** cite, we can blame this creeping menace on the spread of Santorum across the country. psst! Check your calendar ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/14 "2012-04-10T18:33:16Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > psst! Check your calendar What’s a year anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/15 "2012-04-10T18:37:55Z")
That usage baffles me, too - I get what they’re trying to say (I think), but what a strange way to express it. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/16 "2012-04-10T18:58:55Z")
Not new at all, but it’s always been a peculiarly midwestern usage. “Anymore” is universally understood when used as part of a negative construction (“I don’t drink anymore.”), but in certain regions it’s common to hear it flipped like this: “Groceries are getting so expensive anymore.” “My lumbago hurts worse than ever anymore.” I understand it just fine, but I suppose it might sound odd to ears not used to hearing it that way. As **DianaG** says, it’s generally a stand-in for “these days,” yet it usually carries a negative or pessimistic tone. You’ll seldom hear anyone say “My life is just dandy anymore!” ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/17 "2012-04-10T19:43:42Z")
I think it’s a southern-US affectation. I’ve been comfortable with this idiomatic construction for my entire life, likely because my family is from West Virginia. I don’t say it, but I comprehend it. I can’t ever remember learning this like it was a “new thing.” It was just something I heard growing up and made sense based on the context. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/18 "2012-04-10T19:44:29Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I see nothing that needs fixed here. Possibly ironic? Possibly kidding around? Not sure, but the phrasing _“needs fixed here”_ seems wrong to me. Shouldn’t that be _“needs fixing here”_ or _“needs to be fixed here”_? I grew up in the Midwest. Both the subject of this thread (the odd usage of ‘anymore’) AND the usage of “needs fixed” in the post quoted above seemed to be somewhat common. Made my teeth grate every time I heard either of those things. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/19 "2012-04-10T19:51:16Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I think it’s a southern-US affectation. I’ve been comfortable with this idiomatic construction for my entire life, likely because my family is from West Virginia. I don’t say it, but I comprehend it. I can’t ever remember learning this like it was a “new thing.” It was just something I heard growing up and made sense based on the context. Doesn’t affectation mean something like “put on” as in sort of faked or not real? Is that what you mean? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/20 "2012-04-10T20:00:58Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I think it’s a southern-US affectation. I’ve not heard it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389.md?page=2)