Usage of "by the way"

[Kumarc]

Context: I am informing my wife the below sentence at home.

I'm going to the store to buy some groceries. By the way, did you need anything special?

Is this correct using "By the way"?

 

[jutfrank]

No.

 

[emsr2d2]

Context: I am informing my wife the below saying the following sentence to my wife at home.

I'm going to the store to buy some groceries. By the way, did you need anything special?

Is this the correct using use of "By the way"?

 

[Tarheel]

Use "By the way" when there is something you want to talk about but you have to change the subject to do it.

Ron: I saw Tom yesterday.
Don: How's he doing?
Ron: OK. By the way, don't forget we have a dinner appointment.

 

[Skrej]

Context: I am informing my wife the below sentence at home.

I'm going to the store to buy some groceries. By the way, did you need anything special?

Is this correct using "By the way"?

No.

It seems okay to me.

It's something I'm sure I've used in nearly the same context, especially as an afterthought when I realized I probably should have asked them if they needed something, but initially didn't.

 

[Tarheel]

It wouldn't use "By the way" in the grocery example. I might say, "I'm going to the store. Do you need anything?"

 

[jutfrank]

As Tarheel says, by the way is to signal a sudden change of subject. That's not the case in the grocery example.