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Welcome back for another 5 Minute Grammar Lesson! Today’s topic is regardless or irregardless? Which is right? Does it really matter?! Irregardless of if you honestly care, I’m telling you anyway. 🙂
5 Minute Grammar Lesson – Regardless or Irregardless?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but IRREGARDLESS is not a word. I hear a lot of people using it, however. The grammatically correct term is REGARDLESS.
Regardless
Regardless means “without regard.” It is a negative word. Regardless of whether my kids want to clean their rooms, sometimes I make them!
Irregardless
The pronoun IR- is also negative which means that when you add IR to Regardless, you’re guilty of a double negative like: I don’t want nothing. The fix is quick: simply banish the word IRREGARDLESS from your vocabulary.
It’s true that some dictionaries list IRREGARDLESS, but they also mention it as NONSTANDARD – jargon, a dialect, or regional variation.
If you want to sound educated, don’t use IRREGARDLESS. And that is your 5 Minute Grammar Lesson. 🙂
Check back next Sunday for another quick grammar lesson! And if you’d like to get weekly grammar tips delivered straight to your inbox, please subscribe to my once a week newsletter. I promise I won’t spam you. 🙂
Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.
I didn’t know that! Regardless 😉 , I don’t use ‘irregardless’ when I write. However, I’m pretty sure I do when I speak. I’m going to have to pay attention and see!
My husband and I both cringe when we hear someone use this word! I’m glad we’re not the only ones that recognize that irregardless is NOT a word.
I did know that flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing. Didn’t know about the irregardless. I’ll have to remember that one.
I hate when people say ‘supposebly’. Drives me crazy.
I didn’t know that! Regardless 😉 , I don’t use ‘irregardless’ when I write. However, I’m pretty sure I do when I speak. I’m going to have to pay attention and see!
Ugh, I know, it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard!
Ha! I can’t stand that non-word!
Oh yes, this one bugs me!
People using irregardless and supposably are pet peeves of mine. Thanks for clearing this one up for everyone.