You might have heard one person say “regardless” and another say “irregardless.” It makes sense that you’d wonder, “Well, which one is it? Regardless or irregardless?” In this post, we’ll explain which word is correct, why, and when you should use either word.
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What Does Regardless Mean?
The word “regardless” can be an adverb or an adjective. Today, it’s usually used as an adverb to mean something like “despite everything” or “without considering any other information.”
You might use it to show someone steamrolled ahead without thinking about warnings or consequences. In this theoretical situation, our subject is stubborn and determined, whether it’s in their plans or what they believe.
It is pronounced “re-GARD-less.” It comes from the word “regard,” which means “attention” or “concern.” It’s an old word, relatively: English speakers have been using “regardless” in writing since at least the 1500s!
Examples:
- They planned an outdoor wedding regardless of the rainy climate.
- His conduct was regardless of the rule of law.
- Regardless, I believed they had the best intentions.
- Lydia behaved regardless of custom or propriety.
- He took precautions regardless of their assurances of safety.
What Does Irregardless Mean?
Despite the strong feelings many wordsmiths may have, “irregardless” is a real word —major dictionaries like the American Heritage Dictionary and Merriam-Webster recognize the word. “Irregardless” means the same thing as “regardless:” despite everything, careless or heedless.
“Irregardless” is a younger word than “regardless.” It first turned up in the 1920s and immediately had a large number of people up in arms. It’s one of those words that makes grammar purists see red because it uses a prefix in an unusual (or officially, “non-standard”) way.
The prefix ir makes whatever comes after it the opposite. Think about the word “irreplaceable.” It means “not replaceable,” right? But “irregardless” uses the prefix ir and suffix -less, so it’s a double negation or double negaative. Some language experts say the word springs from combining the words “regardless” and “irrespective.”
This use of the prefix is unusual but not completely unheard of in the English language.
Regardless or Irregardless: What’s the Difference?
Aside from the standard and non-standard designations, there’s one big difference. They say that “irregardless” is most often used in the spoken word rather than in writing, casual or formal. So, how did it get into writing? People like reporters faithfully transcribed the word when someone said it, for better or for worse.
“Irregardless” has been controversial since its creation, but it enjoyed a renaissance of infamy, especially on social media, starting in 2020.
An NPR article chronicles the virtual fuss around the word’s status. Around that time, John McIntyre, cofounder of the American Copy Editors Society, shared his opinion in the Baltimore Sun, saying that dictionaries don’t only print proper English words. They also include words that are in use by the English-speaking world at large, regardless of whether red lines appear underneath them when you type them into a Word document.
When and How Should You Use Regardless?
So, how do you decide whether to use “regardless” or “irregardless?” Well, a good guideline would be to use “regardless” in more formal situations, like work communications and academic writing (term paper, research, and essay), and save “irregardless” for more casual conversations or informal contexts. However, before you let it trip off your tongue during informal settings, consider how controversial “irregardless” is. Are you ready to argue whether it’s a word with your friends, family, or that guy at the pub?
That said, language changes all the time. If more and more people embrace the emphasis of “irregardless,” you may find more people will embrace it as a word. Or they will at least be resigned that it’s happening and less likely to start a dispute with you about it.
Final Thoughts
You can decide for yourself whether “irregardless” is a Frankenstein’s monster born of “regardless” and “irrespective” or an innocent way of providing emphasis when you mean “regardless.” Ultimately, when you choose between “regardless” or “irregardless,” you should stick to using “regardless” in formal writing or formal contexts. Why? Because there’s more general acceptance.
