by the way

What is the opposite of by the way? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.

Adverb — Used to introduce a remark that is not part of the main subject, or to add a piece of information as an aside.

How to use by the way

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

oh, by the way just by the way by the way, did you

Neutral and extremely common in speech and informal writing. It usually starts a sentence but can sit mid-sentence between commas. Abbreviated to BTW in messaging and email.

Etymology

First appeared in the 10th century with literal meaning "by the side of the road", from Old English weġ (which became "way") meaning "road". Soon afterward (circa 1000) it came to mean "during one's journey". The figurative meaning developed in the mid-16th century, with the first instance of the modern meaning being f...

Full origin of by the way →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 'by the way' and 'anyway'?

'By the way' introduces a new, unrelated point as an aside. 'Anyway' does the opposite — it closes a digression and returns to the main subject, or dismisses what was just said.

What does BTW stand for?

It stands for 'by the way' and is used in texts, chat and informal email. It works in exactly the same positions as the full phrase.

Is 'by the way' rude?

Not in itself, but it is sometimes used to slip in a criticism or a demand while making it sound minor. Tone and what follows decide how it lands.

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