Revised as of
24 June 2023
Anymore these days, if you’re reading any more British-authored books, you’ll probably run into this compound word confusion. But give it time, it seems anymore the British are coming over to our way of thinking, that anymore is right handy for indicating time as in nowadays, any longer, or still rather than using any more in all situations.
Don’t get me wrong, Americans still use any more to indicate more of something. So if you read any more British or Australian novels, it’s up to your interpretation as to whether it’s in addition or now, although if any more years pass, it’s likely to get easier. For us Yanks, anyway.
| Using any more | Can be re-interpreted with anymore: |
|---|---|
| We do not have any more work. | We are not working anymore. |
| I can’t give you any more love than I already have. | I don’t love you anymore. |
| I don’t need any more caffeine, so I don’t drink coffee anymore (Live Write Thrive). | |
Other any posts include “Any Way vs Anyway vs Anyways“, “Any One versus Anyone“, and “Any Time versus Anytime“.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Any More | Anymore |
|---|---|
Chocolate Chip Cookie Crumbs on Plate is Knoell8504‘s own work and is under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — Are there any more cookies? |
I Don’t Want to Play Anymore by Bobbi Jones Jones is in the public domain, via Public Domain Pictures. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Adverb + Adjective = Adjective phrase Determiner (Adverb + Noun (usually a negative)) |
Adverb |
| Less commonly used in the 20th century, although it is common in questions, in clauses with if, and in sentences with negative words such as hardly, never, and scarcely
Comparison Adverb + Adjective: Indicate quantity or degree [Used in an end position in a sentence] No longer [Used in an end position in a sentence] In the past but not now Determiner: No more Describes an indefinite quantity of something, similar to some more, which is more common in affirmative statements |
Regularly used in negative, interrogative, and conditional contexts and certain positive constructions, it is the more commonly used form in the 20th century.
To any further extent Any longer No longer At the present time, at this time Nowadays Now, Currently |
| Examples: | |
| Adverb + Adjective: I don’t like paying $3.50 for a cup of coffee any more than you do. We don’t go to Cornwall on holiday any more. The cost of electricity is not cheap any more. Determiner: I don’t want any more pie. If you find any more books, please let us know. She doesn’t want any more contact with him. I don’t want any more. Are there any more like him? There are hardly any more people here than last month. |
Hardly a day passes without rain anymore.
If you do that anymore, I’ll leave. Do you read much anymore? No one can be natural anymore. The Washingtonian is too sophisticated to believe anymore in solutions. –Russell Baker He doesn’t cycle anymore. Everybody’s cool anymore –Bill White Discover why I don’t worry about exams anymore. |
| History of the Word: | |
| 14th century | |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
Satisfy your curiosity about other Word Confusions on its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, Linguistics, Publishing Tips, the Properly Punctuated, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.
Resources for Any More versus Anymore
Apple Dictionary.com
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Homeless Man is Matthew Woitunski’s own work is under the CC BY 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons.
