Anyway, Anyhow, At Any Rate, At Least

These words are often confused. They have similar meanings. They can mean ‘what was said before doesn’t matter – the main point is as follows’.

• I am not sure what time I will arrive. Anyway / anyhow / at any rate I will be there before 10 o’clock.

Anyhow can mean ‘by one means or another’.

• The door was shut and I could not open it anyhow.

Anyhow can also mean ‘carelessly’; ‘without order’.

• The work was done all anyhow.

At least is used to suggest that one thing is all right even if everything else is unsatisfactory.

• The building was totally destroyed in the fire. At least nobody was hurt.

Notes

Anyway does not mean the same as any way, which means ‘by any method’.

• Can you help me in any way?