# 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:** 2
**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, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/21 "2012-04-10T20:03:12Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > that it is wrongwrongwrongallfuckingkindsofwrong– Are you annoyed by folks making sentences into questions? They do it on NPR now, damn their eyes. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/22 "2012-04-10T20:17:24Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > 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”_? It’s a region dialect peculiar, IME, to western Pennsylvania. And because of association with a particular person who I knew who used it, it drives me bats. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/23 "2012-04-10T20:19:32Z")
In a recent thread, the use of “alot” was defended vigorously. :rolleyes: Any \*anymore \*bothers you?? ---
**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, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/24 "2012-04-10T20:29:42Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > In a recent thread, the use of “alot” was defended vigorously. :rolleyes: Any \*anymore \*bothers you?? Not any anymore, when it is used instead of nowadays. ‘Alot’ is a misspelling, not a weird usage, though. ---
**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, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/25 "2012-04-10T20:29:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I’ve not heard it. Yeah, not Suthun at all. ---
**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, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/26 "2012-04-10T20:50:53Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > It’s a region dialect peculiar, IME, to western Pennsylvania. And because of association with a particular person who I knew who used it, it drives me bats. Yes, the person I know who uses both “anymore” and “needs fixed” is from that area. Someone else I knew from there didn’t though. ---
**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, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/27 "2012-04-10T21:16:45Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > 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? That’s the most common usage, but it can also mean basically the opposite. I was using it to mean “annoyed” or “disgruntled”. ---
**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, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/28 "2012-04-10T22:18:12Z")
Oh snap, I guess I was wrong about the origin. I never knew this use was uncommon until I read this thread, though. I have lots of family from WV with southern accents who use “anymore” like this, and I just assumed they were linked. And affectation was the wrong term. Mannerism would be more appropriate, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/29 "2012-04-10T22:39:40Z")
Oh, sure the positive anymore. It is weird, but cool. ---
**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, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/30 "2012-04-10T22:46:26Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > 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!” > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Oh, sure the positive anymore. It is weird, but cool. Now you’re confusing me anymore! ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/31 "2012-04-10T22:52:32Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Oh snap, I guess I was wrong about the origin. I never knew this use was uncommon until I read this thread, though. I have lots of family from WV with southern accents who use “anymore” like this, and I just assumed they were linked. Not too far wrong. “Anymore” and “needs ~ed,” in my experience, both are common not just in western PA but also central PA (where I lived in my 20s), southern OH (where I grew up), and at least the bits of WV in between. Now that I’m out of the region I don’t use those regionalisms, uh, anymore. But I love hearing them. They remind me of home. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/32 "2012-04-10T22:57:44Z")
Anymore is usually considered to have a negative polarity in that it only functions as an emphasis to negative statements and questions. I **don’t** do that anymore. She **never** calls anymore. You **shouldn’t** run anymore. In all these cases, a condition existed in the past but no longer does. The positive anymore denotes a change in the other direction. A condition or characteristic has recently popped into existence. It’s irregular and regional and certainly not appropriate for formal speech or writing but it’s a valid form of speech and I look forward to seeing if it spreads, stagnates or withers in the coming years. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/33 "2012-04-10T22:58:10Z")
It reads very strangely to these British eyes. I sometimes have to re-read a sentence with it in to make sure I’ve grasped the meaning properly. But it’s a regionalism, and I’m in no position to complain about that. Death to the lose/loose thing though! ---
**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 11, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/34 "2012-04-11T00:10:07Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > That’s the most common usage, but it can also mean basically the opposite. > > I was using it to mean “annoyed” or “disgruntled”. As far as I know chuff has various negative meanings, including being a euphemism for fuck but to be chuffed about or with something is always positive and it’s opposite is dischuffed. ---
**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 11, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/35 "2012-04-11T00:15:19Z")
> [@E.Thorp](#): > > Not too far wrong. “Anymore” and “needs ~ed,” in my experience, both are common not just in western PA but also central PA (where I lived in my 20s), southern OH (where I grew up), and at least the bits of WV in between. Those usages are also somewhat common in southern Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/36 "2012-04-11T00:44:57Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > That’s the most common usage, but it can also mean basically the opposite. > > I was using it to mean “annoyed” or “disgruntled”. I’ve lived in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and both the east and west coasts of the United States, as well as traveling extensively within the US. I’ve heard “chuffed” use quite a lot, especially in the UK and Australia, and i have never once heard it used to mean the exact opposite of what it actually means. By “it can also mean” you seem to mean “I’ve decided that it should mean.” ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/37 "2012-04-11T00:52:50Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I’ve lived in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and both the east and west coasts of the United States, as well as traveling extensively within the US. > > I’ve heard “chuffed” use quite a lot, especially in the UK and Australia, and i have never once heard it used to mean the exact opposite of what it actually means. > > By “it can also mean” you seem to mean “I’ve decided that it should mean.” I think he’s confusing it with “chafed”. ---
**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 11, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/38 "2012-04-11T00:56:42Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > By “it can also mean” you seem to mean “I’ve decided that it should mean.” :rolleyes: It’s the second definition on [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) and in the OED, bro. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/39 "2012-04-11T03:47:01Z")
I have been noticing it more the last few years. I like it, it seems a little more wistful than “these days” or “lately”. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389/40 "2012-04-11T04:00:40Z")
This phenomenon is called [Positive Anymore](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_anymore). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-new-use-of-the-word-anymore/618389.md?page=3)