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Sunday 16 May 2021

Sunday Rest: irregardless. Word Not To Use Today.

 Look, think about it: if you regard something you are looking at it with attention.

It therefore follows, as the night the day, that if you are regardless then you are not looking at something with attention.

It also follows, therefore, that if you are irregardless, then logically that should mean that you are paying close attention again.

It doesn't, of course. Irregardless means exactly the same as regardless. 

I know that doesn't make sense, but it's true (although, come to think about it, minus one plus minus one does equal minus two...). 

Anyway, never mind the logic, the basic difference between regardless and irregardless is that using the word irregardless will make you look like a woolly-headed illiterate.

Just saying.

Word Not To Udse Today: irregardless. The Old French (and, for that matter, Modern French) regarder means to look at, and garder means to guard.

Ir- has more or less the same meanings as in-.


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