Revised as of 5 June 2018
It’s an editor’s handicap what with the hundreds of thousands of words that cross our desks, er, um, computer screens. This is one of my own questions, and I suddenly became curious as to which was correct: regard to or regards to. As you know, all it takes is one letter to change the entire meaning, and I wanted to know.
It was a surprise to learn that both are correct, in their own way. Naturally. Don’t you love the English language? Regard to is quite sober, being an introduction to letters and such. So very business-like. And the total opposite to the bright lights of Broadway.
The second, the regards to, is very easy to remember as you long as you remember “Give My Regards to Broadway”, a song written by George M. Cohan back in 1904. A catchy tune that went on to become a catchy phrase for tourists and wanna-be actors all over.
Word Confusions…
…started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from either end.
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| Regard To | [Give] Regards To |
|---|---|
| Credit to: Apple Dictionary.com; Live Write Thrive | |
A common start for a letter… |
Give My Regards to Broadway is courtesy of Quadell and is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Noun Plural: regard to |
Noun Plural: regards to |
| Regarding [to], Pertaining [to]
Always use the singular when using:
Using a plural form (with regards to or in regards to) is considered incorrect Best as an introductory phrase, but do consider replacing it with a single word such as concerning, regarding, considering, even in, about, for. |
Saying hello |
| Examples: | |
| This is in regard to the note I sent.
I’m answering in regard to your concern. |
Give my regards to Broadway.
Be sure to give my regards to your parents. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan…which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them…and we’ll all benefit!
Pinterest Photo Credits:
Give My Regards to Broadway by F.A. Mills <glopad.org/pi/en/record/digdoc/1003507> is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
