The disclosure herein relates to a group of N-hydrocarbyloxymethyl-2-haloacetanilide compounds, herbicidal compositions containing said compounds as the active ingredient and herbicidal method of use in various crops, particularly, corn and soybeans and other crops including cotton, peanuts, rape and bush beans. The herbicides herein are particularly effective against hard-to-kill perennial weeds such as quackgrass and nutsedges and are also effective against annual weeds.