Regardless vs Irregardless
There are some words in English language that have become so common and frequently used by people that it is hard to tell if they are actually correct and exist in the language or not. Irregardless is one such word that is spoken by many people despite the fact that there is another word regardless that exist in English language. If one were to write Irregardless in spellcheckers and MS Word, he would be told that there is no such word, but yes, there are some dictionaries that have started to give Irregardless an official entry though it means the same as regardless. Let us take a closer look.
Regardless
Regardless is a word that means a person having no regards. The word has a suffix .less at the end which indicates without. So regardless is a person without regards. However, regardless is also used as a synonym for notwithstanding. Heedless, unmindful, without concern etc are other similar meaning words. Doing something without paying attention to warning or advice is said to be regardless of warning or advice.
Irregardless
Irregardless is not a Standard English word though it is spoken and used commonly by people. Irregardless has even been given an entry in some dictionaries of the world. It is really funny to know that people use irregardless when they actually mean regardless. We know that regardless itself means without regards, then adding a prefix of ir to regardless makes it a double negative word having no meaning. Thus, adding ir prefix to regardless makes it a word that would mean without without regards or in other words a nonsense word.
Those who are interested in knowing more about the origins of a word would find it interesting to know that the word irregardless comes from a blend of the two words irrespective and regardless. Also, the reason why people must have conjured up a word like irregardless is that they would have been inspired by irrespective and irreplaceable. Little did they realize that these words do not have ‘less’ as a suffix which irregardless already has.
What is the difference between Regardless and Irregardless?
• The truth is that Irregardless remains a slang or a nonstandard word at best and is not considered a substitute for regardless.
• Regardless stands for without regard and adding a prefix ir before it would make a double negative word that does not make sense.
• The fact that people still speak Irregardless is suggestive of the fact that English is a growing language and is ready to adapt to changes that reflect people’s hopes and aspirations.
As I was taught long ago
Regardless is a comparative. Irregardless is a superlative.
If I miss my train and I say to my employer “Sorry I am late, I missed the train” he can say;
1. “You should not be late regardless” meaning that missing the train is not a good enough excuse.
Or he could say;
2 “You should not be late irregardless” meaning that here is no possible excuse that will be accepted.
Two very different meanings concisely specified by two letters that otherwise need a few words to differentiate.
This is as I was taught over half a century ago in an English grammar school.