Askew works as both adjective ('the picture is askew') and adverb ('hanging askew'). It is slightly more formal and literary than 'crooked' or 'lopsided', fitting naturally in both spoken and written English.
Askew works as both adjective ('the picture is askew') and adverb ('hanging askew'). It is slightly more formal and literary than 'crooked' or 'lopsided', fitting naturally in both spoken and written English.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The data was askew toward older respondents. | The data was skewed toward older respondents. |
| Her hat sat askew on her head. | Her hat sat askew on her head. |
In the figurative sense, askew often follows 'go' or 'look': 'things went askew', 'something looked askew'. It conveys that a situation has drifted from how it should be, with a slightly literary tone.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Everything went totally askew. | Everything went totally awry. |
| The project is askew. | The project has gone askew. |
Askew suits both literal misalignment and figurative disorder. It is neutral in register and works in both speech and writing, though the figurative sense has a slightly literary flavour.
Confusing askew with 'skewed': skewed implies a directional bias or statistical distortion, while askew simply means not straight or not right.
From Middle English skew ('to move obliquely, escape'), from Anglo-French eschiver ('to escape, avoid'). The prefix a- conveys 'in such a state'. First recorded in English in 1538, in a dictionary by the humanist Thomas Elyot.
What does askew mean?
Askew means not straight or not level — either literally (a tilted object) or figuratively (something gone wrong). It works as both an adjective and an adverb.
What is the difference between askew and awry?
Both describe something gone wrong, but awry is more common in everyday speech for figurative misfortune, while askew is slightly more literary. For physical misalignment, askew is the more natural choice.
What is the difference between askew and skewed?
Askew means simply not straight or off-kilter. Skewed implies a directional bias or distortion, often used in statistics or analysis.
Is askew an adjective or adverb?
Both. It functions as an adjective ('the picture is askew') and as an adverb ('hanging askew').
What is the origin of askew?
Askew comes from Middle English skew, derived from Anglo-French eschiver ('to escape or avoid'). It was first recorded in 1538.