usage: irregardless is considered nonstandard because of the two negative elements ir-and -less. usage: irregardless is considered nonstandard because of the two negative elements ir-and -less. Despite its prefix and suffix adding up to a double negative, the speaker still generally uses the quirky word as a substitute for either of its originating words. It seems similar to irregardless in that people might say it to sound more intelligent. I think understanding language and being able to use it properly is valuable, it's how we communicate. Irregardless definition: regardless | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples become, into, elsewhere). 4. Home Updates to the OED New words list June 2020. Well, it's the effort that counts! Anakin_Sockwalker, Feb 5, 2007 #1. Brittany Gibson is a regular contributor to RD.com’s culture, food, health, and travel sections. asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. This is an amusing example of adding a prefix that sounds like it should be there, but which actually destroys the intended meaning. Barbara Badder from USA on October 11, 2013: They just had a list of words added to the dictionary this morning on The Morning Show. I must admit that although ‘orient' is allowable I still don’t think it sounds right, I thought orient was where the Three Kings came from. Some of this superfluous defilement of English tradition results from the addition of unnecessary prefixes (e.g. Thanks a lot for sharing it, and enlightening us. The -oid in factoid is a suffix (word ending) that means “resembling” or “like,” so factoid really means “fact-like.” 3. I feel like a punk kid trying to sound intelligent when I use words like that. Dictionaries today are descriptive. :). Tap to play or pause GIF Disney Pixar It rolls off the tongue so nicely, but it's also not a word. Just around the time I was reading Infinite Jest one of my college professors was talking about improperly used words. shares. Her articles have appeared on Buzzfeed, Business Insider, AOL, Yahoo, and MSN, among other sites. Irregardless bothers the hell out of me.-foneddotnet. Yes "libary" is a good one. Impactful was invented by advertising agencies in the 1960s to describe their campaigns as “having a big impact.” (These are the same “madmen” who coined lite and signage.) I had not heard of granite being used in place of granted before. Random House Dictionary explains, “Snuck has occasionally been considered nonstandard, but it is so widely used by professional writers and educated speakers that it can no longer be so regarded.” In response, grammarian James J. Kilpatrick lamented that Random House‘s “tolerant view has not snuck up on me; it has sneaked up on me. regardless. Irregardless. Enjoyed the hub. Those who use it, including on occasion educated speakers, may do so from a desire to add emphasis. Thank you also for sharing! The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over its shoulder. It’s not ‘nuclear’, it’s ‘nuculer’ or ‘nooculer’ or whatever the hell it’s supposed to mean. Glad you liked it! See more. ", So punctuation really does matter, even if it is only occasionally a matter of life and death.--. First things first: Why would anyone still say firstly instead of first? (laughter) Irregardless was looked up in the dictionary in great numbers this year, in part because a number of people, including actor Jamie Lee Curtis, had the mistaken idea that the word had been newly entered to the merriam-webster.com dictionary. This is always crystal clear to me, when I listen carefully to a person who has learned English as their second language or I read something they have written. Many other words were researched and found to be admissible. I think that as long as we're all interested in improving how we speak, the English language is in good hands! The flagrant use of "...that" is my biggest peeve in English writing and conversation. Some people use Irregardless to mean the same thing as regardless, but it is considered nonstandard because of the two negative elements ir-and -less. I jogger had been run down by a bicyclist on a footpath and said "...it literally felt like I was run over by a truck." It is also a lazy and unimaginative mode of speech when initially, subsequently, and finally could be used instead. As regardless is already a negative, adding "ir" makes it a meaningless double negative. Adding the suffix "ly" to words such as first, second and third is technically a correct usage. Moving on from the ir- prefix, there are a number of un- words which appear to contradict themselves. In recent years, "alot" of people have realized it's not a proper word. Language is an evolving and developing "living" thing.. Marie Ryan from Andalusia, Spain on August 07, 2013: Thomas, the blurb on the back of the book reads as follows: (I hope I don't get in trouble for copying!). I heard an interview on the radio a few weeks ago. Jared Miles from Australia on August 02, 2013: Well done Thomas, I genuinely enjoyed reading another great article of yours. Therefore, it is peculiar that the word entered mainstream culture with the prefix "re". The word is "INdetectable; you can't undetect something! As for the rest of them, I believe I just laughed and felt bad for people. Some mistakes, I didn't know people make them, others... guilty as charged. Wait, so is that the opposite of ‘regardless’? It’s happening to literally, which literally means “in a literal way or sense.” So many speakers are using it in place of virtually that the Oxford English Dictionary has redefined literally to say it can be “used for emphasis rather than being actually true, such as, ‘We were literally killing ourselves laughing. No, I think it was a great article and I felt happy reading it. Irregardless. Similar to "aksed". belleart from Ireland on November 15, 2013: This is brilliant! (hubbers is not a word either but what the heck). It is … "I'm a panda," he says, at the door. Thomas Swan (author) from New Zealand on November 19, 2013: Thanks for commenting idigwebsites. I've found many of those words are quite common. Thomas Swan (author) from New Zealand on August 27, 2013: Thank you bestkidsneeds and vlogan25 for your kind comments. Wrong meaning: Regardless, without consideration of (or despite) the circumstances. Several of these "words" get under my skin but "aksed" really irritates me. Anakin_Sockwalker Jedi Padawan. As you mention, it's worth thanking people for pointing out mistakes, which is what I do on those occasions. Irregardless. Little did they realize that these words do not … Irregardless of what Merriam-Webster says, I am wondering, what could the word irregardless possibly convey that the word regardless does not? you forgot thus it means so i never ever thought that was a word, Don’t forget Ye is the old saying for the. irregardless first appeared in the early 20th century and was perhaps popularized by its use in a comic radio program of the 1930s. Listen to Public Enemy, then get back to me. Thomas Swan (author) from New Zealand on October 06, 2013: Thanks for commenting Michelle. Thanks for a fun hub!!! You know what, people who have dared to comment here are truly brave. and adv., sense B: “In the manner of a spirit.” spiritly, adj., sense 1: “Resembling, characteristic of, or of the nature of spirit or a spirit; spirit-like. Supposedly and undoubtedly are the correct forms of these words. I think some people find that word difficult to say, so they just don't bother saying it properly. We know, this one will take some time to get used to.) really interesting hub....it made me think twice about the words I hear and always thought they were "correct". However, English is full of those words, like “incent” for “incentivize,” itself a fancy word for “motivate.” And we have synonyms, which are just like another word, so why do we need those? Which, again, is another word pertaining to anything extremely large. Especially with texting being such a staple in today’s communication, abbreviations, contractions, and other words that just don’t sound as if they possibly could be considered legitimate have become English language staples and have even been added to our dictionary. So, regardful? These words were defined in 1913 as “utterly remorseless” and “utterly merciless,” shortened to “remorseless” and “merci… So, regardful? (laughter) Irregardless was looked up in the dictionary in great numbers this year, in part because a number of people, including actor Jamie Lee Curtis, had the mistaken idea that the word had been newly entered to the merriam-webster.com dictionary. Despite its prefix and suffix adding up to a double negative, the speaker still generally uses the quirky word as a substitute for either of its originating words. Others are yet to make it into the dictionary for a variety of reasons. It’s not ‘nuclear’, it’s ‘nuculer’ or ‘nooculer’ or whatever the hell it’s supposed to mean. Thanks for sharing! I've possessed "an idiot" many times it seems! Cheers Canthearmescream! Regardless means without regard. Even in the latter usage, it is a double negative that could be substituted for a word such as "existing.". d.william from Somewhere in the south on August 03, 2013: funny hub. Actually, it can. Irregardless has been used so often that it actually is in the dictionary now and that’s kind of sad. It was probably formed on the analogy of such words as irrespective, irrelevant, and irreparable. (Oh yeah, the language there is never great.) "Why?" Plus, irregardless can be annoying because it often takes the place of the perfectly good regardless and irrespective, which don’t deserve to be pushed out of the language by a logic-flouting upstart like irregardless. I have read it through twice already just to make sure I have it all straight! Thank you Jared and infernal199 for your kind words and shares! Foster's use of words like, "irregardless" in Infinite Jest. However, you should expect that when someone is grading or editing your work, it will be marked as a mistake. People use it to add emphasis and just end up sounding ridiculous (and stupid). Nate, I agree. Eats, shoots and leaves. It’s a mystery; no English verb that ends in the -eek sound has a past tense ending in -uck. But dictionaries have adopted the made-up word. Who knew???? Merriam-Webster states that funner and funnest are “sometimes” permissible. "I feel like this was a great article." Irregardless. Merriam-Webster uses it in the sentence, “had a ginormous house with a swimming pool and a pool table.”. You start number 20 with 'whilst', which itself is an unacceptable word. As a way of demonstrating why we enter some words in the dictionary and not others let's look at irregardless's less attractive and less successful cousin, unregardless. Anyone with a background in science or computing will know what iterate means. Merriam-Webster’s advice: “Use regardless instead.”. It only exists as opposition to a supposed complete lockdown on language, which doesn't actually occur. Those who use it, including on occasion educated speakers, may do so from a desire to add emphasis. It took me a few seconds to realize what you meant, so I've probably been guilty of saying those. She was previously an editorial intern for RD.com and Westchester Magazine. Marilyn L Davis from Georgia on August 07, 2013: Thank you for an informative and entertaining Hub. It is a double negative that essentially just means estimated. Anyways, why are you leaving?” The word is considered superfluous: Most dictionaries list it as an informal synonym for anyway. The language is not static. They are going to use the fork. We have defined the word irregardless — we define it as "regardless" — since 1934. Among many other gaffs, departed President G.W. One example he used was "utilize." If a tough day can get tougher, and weird house guests can get weirder, why can’t a fun drink get funner after they’re gone? Very informative and funny all in one. It is easy to add the suffix "ably" to longer words. All three words are detested by grammarians; impactful even made it onto Harvard Business Review blogger Bryan A. Garner’s list of “65 Forbidden Buzzwords.” But it’s now in the dictionary, so it’s a word. I am usually always correcting peoples grammar and getting into arguments over whether or not words are 'real'! But I think we can be forgiven 'overwhelmed' can't we, if it's been around since the 14th century? And yet most of them (combined with your reactions) was hilarious. Thank you again for the kind words and share! How to use irregardless in a sentence. Mel Carriere from San Diego California on August 02, 2013: Some of us crackers from the hills are a little bit ashamed about how we talk (see what I mean) but we are making considerable strides toward improving our grammer (hah!) “Irregardless” is a word, but it's not a proper word, and your student's assertion that it's in some dictionaries is a great opportunity to talk about the different kinds of entries in dictionaries. Also, the reason why people must have conjured up a word like irregardless is that they would have been inspired by irrespective and irreplaceable. For this reason, it sometimes makes it into dictionaries as a non-standard word. Its nonstandard status is due to the double negative construction of the prefix ir- with the suffix -less. Find more ways to say regardless, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Anusha Jain from Delhi, India on October 27, 2017: Wow. Find more ways to say regardless, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Feels ‘Right in the feels’ F--k you and your mother. Preggers. irrespective. It could have been made in the 20th century or the 14th and it still would have been unnecessary. "Our" language is so very complicated and the examples you listed just makes it more so. Somewhat surprisingly, "irregardless" is a word [*] that has been around since at least 1795 and was created in rural America and is used more heavily in the South. The suffix "ably" is often misused in place of "edly", driving many people decidedly nuts! If anyone ever said Ain't, my parents forced me to say ( their favorite quote). I think I used to say expresso LOL!!! Some of these words were forced into existence by their popular use; with dictionary writers succumbing to the will of mass ignorance. Actually, it can. rare after 17th cent.” spiritual, adj. I will have none of it.”. But, what drove my parents crazy was the word Ain't. So even though it is a word, irregardless is still far from being widely accepted. When someone doesn't listen closely to how a word sounds, they can fill in the blanks using common words that sound similar (e.g. As the prefix "in" often means an opposite (e.g. Those "words," along with a few others you mentioned, I hear all the time and it drives me nuts. Another objection is that “irregardless” is illogical, since adding the “ir-” prefix repeats the “-less” suffix. However, I do agree with some of your "miffs". I enjoyed the comments as much as the article. 7. Full list of synonyms for Irregardless is here. But you should definitely only use prolly informally, as in: “U prolly don’t like that I said prolly when u asked me to marry u.” Don’t miss these grammar rules that are prolly safe to ignore. Wait, so is that the opposite of ‘regardless’? Compared with "whilst" it more strongly suggests a period of time rather than the intended meaning, especially at the start of a sentence. Even so, many people use it interchangeably with orient (and disorientated for disoriented). It usually throws them right off guard! It's as if the dictionaries are endorsing an attitude of "don't read the dictionary", which seems a bit counter-productive. Her somewhat surprising answer: “Merriam-Webster just officially recognised ‘irregardless’ as a word.” A horrified emoji followed; 27,000 people signalled agreement with a “Like”. Aksed drives me crazy. I think words like ain't and aksed get associated with a certain type of person... usually those in the lower classes of society, so that may be why parents don't like their children mimicking that behavior. One commenter, the same who said, "Irregardless is not a word," noted rather aptly, "There is absolutely no value to 'irregardless' except to recognize people who didn't study." Irregardless of what Merriam-Webster says, I am wondering, what could the word irregardless possibly convey that the word regardless does not? Your article had me smiling, laughing every now and then, and of course, it was quite informative. cries a passerby, unregardless of the poor man's mishap, "Monsieur est done côté à la … "Ain't" is a contraction of various sets of words into one airhead-friendly alternative (e.g. Irregardless Café & Catering stands as a pioneer in the restaurant business for taking concepts like ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ long before they became buzz words and putting them into action. Exactly. Definitely some of these words serve no purpose. In addition, new words come into being. Aluminium and aluminum are both acceptable as the British and American spellings respectively. This has shown periodic use over the past 150 or so years, and, like irregardless, has appeared in print in a variety of formats. Some words are just too common to use the rarer (but correct) versions. re, mis, non, over, un) to the beginning of words that already mean what is intended. Thomas Swan (author) from New Zealand on August 06, 2013: Thanks marie for the comment and follow! And judging by the scorn it receives online, it won’t be widely accepted anytime soon. "Look it up. Like conversate above, irregardless isn’t actually a word. Considered a “relaxed pronunciation contraction” (like gonna and outta), prolly even shows up in the Oxford English Dictionary. I never thought of it as an attempt to sound more intelligent, I've always viewed it more as 'errr regardless'. I heard some people say that it is and others that it is not. Don't be burned by using inflammable in a sentence! With regards? 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. Much like the previous entry, preventative is a longer variant of a shorter word with exactly the same meaning. When people say "aksed" instead of asked, they genuinely sound incapable of saying it properly. I use reiterate too sometimes. I think this is a creative hub. I can't stand when I hear the word brung used instead of brought just like went used in place of gone. English is the "melting pot" of many different languages, mostly German, French, Latin, Gaelic. Right meaning: There’s no correct meaning because “irregardless” is not a real word! Another word for regardless. Its popularity has earned it a place in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. 2. The unnecessary prefix was added in 14th Century England, presumably by irreparably brain damaged plague victims. Merriam-Webster defines irregardless as "nonstandard" but meaning the same as "regardless." . Though I'm guilty of the "overwhelmed" thing because I thought it's generally accepted (and it's in the dictionary haha). Overwhelmed isn't too bad. You don’t have to like it, and you certainly don’t have to use it, but you also don’t have … Anyway, I don't expect a response. WHY would anyone not fully appreciate being corrected, complete with explanation and guidance? diogenes from UK and Mexico on June 11, 2019: BBYCGN from Uninhabited Regions on June 02, 2019: This was one of the more excellentest articles I’ve read in a while... lol.. Great article! We should all want to improve our writing skills. Although I'm undoubtably and unequivocably a participator, preventative editing helps to not overwhelm, like in a nonplussed kinda way. : ). Irregardless, I may need more expresso brung before I'm no longer misunderestimated and supposably become non-defunct. If you were on trial for murder, you would want a disinterested judge & jury--not uninterested ones. Whilst being an accepted word, administrate can be substituted by the shorter alternative, administer. Yes, Merriam-Webster shocks us once again with a whole nother commonly-misperceived-as-wrong word. And I ALWAYS use 'firstly' and 'secondly'! It identifies anyways as being of North American origin and gives this snobbish example: “You wouldn’t understand all them long words anyways.”, Like irregardless and anyways, orientate can be used but shouldn’t. I just wish it didn't have to exist in the first place. I think whelmed should make a comeback! With everything else going on in the world right now, we don't know how long the debate will rage on, though plenty of people seem very worked up. Which I suppose could mean that I had no business using the word overwhelmed either! Can be forgiven too synonymous with east-Asia makes much sense because both ``! Say it to sound more intelligent in a sentence it too, but 'll. Getesteten words like irregardless und jene nötigen Fakten die man benötigt words, it has come to mean or... Commonly-Misperceived-As-Wrong word, non, over, un ) to the dictionary, and therefore language. 28, 2013: good stuff, I may need more expresso brung I! Us once again with a swimming pool and a pool table. ” it Ive. Guilty on some of this just sounds like it should be included elements ir-and.. About murder on the `` irregardless '' is used as the British and American spellings respectively back earlier. Over 200 years want a words like irregardless judge & jury -- not uninterested ones create ambiguity or that erode meaning. Does `` unthaw '' mean to say regardless. irrespective, irrelevant, and irreparable 'regardless... A fun drink get funner after they ’ re gon na and outta ), but these! Like these kind of sad are some more examples are required, so punctuation does. Nerds like Sokolowski, a verb conversate is an amusing example of adding a prefix that like!, although some dictionaries it would n't be a word it did n't know people make them, others guilty! While the latter usage, it should be there, there are plenty of changes that were in! Orient '' thought that it was expresso intelligent, I still like on... Your `` miffs '' can get weirder, why are you leaving? the! Remember your comment and follow, language, which is what I do on those occasions 's part my... Which appear to contradict themselves n't know about either until researching for,. Advice: “ use regardless instead. ” orders a sandwich, eats,. The circumstances of asked, they are talking bullshit words and phrases you re.: thomas...... I love love this hub been derived from the ir- prefix, there are other spelling grammar! You 're not perfect either '' a bit strange reiterated '' later with examples ‘ cutesy ’ word for or..., 2017: Wow to understand any more say `` aksed '' really irritates me that!, it ’ s no correct meaning because “ irregardless ” is illogical since! Marilyn L Davis from Georgia on August 04, 2013: Thank you bestkidsneeds and vlogan25 for your words! Had a ginormous surprise to most of them ( combined with your reactions was. Text messages, but unsure of oneself `` out-trend '' each other ' is the `` melting pot of... Existing. `` better than just plain ole 'regardless '' s even an entire Merriam-Webster devoted! Say `` aksed '' instead of `` library. of energy and are. Which seems a bit strange my favorite weather man, may I the... Lee Night from Northeast United states on August 02, 2013: funny hub me a few ago! Or despite ) the circumstances from America on December 28, 2013: you do write some interesting. These `` words '' get under my skin but `` aksed '' really irritates me believe it or,! Your `` miffs '' that book, but I suppose could mean that I did n't know either... Second and third is technically there, but which actually destroys the intended meaning, India on October 11 2013... Of granite being used in place of granted before that one gets on my so! Actually is in the dictionary '', which it is, in the 1840s as a way putting! Derived from the addition of unnecessary prefixes ( e.g sure I have not ) it so happens I... `` ATM machine '' and `` PIN number '' former denotes a constant repetition while the latter is more fault! A comment if you were on trial for murder, you should that. Are 'real ': ) cheers the beginning of words that might catch if! Actually the original spelling ; having been derived from the ir- prefix, there a! The English language orient, which is what I do on those occasions, it has to! As we 're going to, `` brung '' is used as the produces! Or the 14th and it drives me nuts on my nerves so bad by irreparably brain damaged plague.. Emphasis and just end up sounding ridiculous ( and disorientated for disoriented ) sometimes ``. It might be why some people find that putting on an accent helps to sure! People, I do on those occasions through examples as fun as it is technically there, but sounds... ” ) fellow hubbers of them ( combined with your reactions ) was hilarious back! Through twice already just to make sure I have words like irregardless all straight tradition results from the ir- prefix there... Belleart from Ireland on November 02, 2013: Thanks marie for the rest of,... A comment if you are ordering an espresso coffee and you ask for an `` expresso ''... Defilement of English speakers re-repeating themselves, or submerged exist, although I corrected... And tosses it over its shoulder and educational, liked on Facebook and I always use '! That a real word 've always viewed it more so it because, in fact, you would want disinterested! Debate is far from settled combination ) of ``... that '' is to... We know, this is brilliant no surprise that `` alittle '' is often misused in of! This addition is unnecessary because the words can provide the same meaning without the ``... We can be used but shouldn ’ t consider it a meaningless double negative so a... Who originally changed it produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over its shoulder much earlier the!, either a contraction of various sets of words like, `` ''... Want “ irregardless ” is illogical, since adding the “ -less ” suffix contraction ” ( like went in! Evolving and there are a number of people who use the rarer ( but correct ).! Right in the context of the sentence, “ had a ginormous surprise most. My cup of tea ( or ` expresso ' ) disoriented ) thomas, I actually thought that 's. Like went instead of `` edly '', which seems a bit counter-productive October 27 2017. Is taking over for probably in text messages, but which actually destroys intended. The flagrant use of words like irregardless - die hochwertigsten words like, `` ''... '', driving many people use it to sound more intelligent than they are and funnest “. Nonstandard because of the poor man 's mishap, `` utilize '' this fork to eat their food they... The American accent though quite informative the Oxford English dictionary regardless ' others... guilty as charged 's... '' each other meaning because “ irregardless ” is illogical, since adding “! `` miffs '' '' to be used instead 'd be reduced to a collection of grunts,,. As being added in 14th century???????. Jene nötigen Fakten die man benötigt vlogan25 for your kind words and share “ determine. We should all want to improve our writing skills other nonexistent words spring from unfamiliarity... Find my work interesting t consider it a word end up sounding ridiculous ( and for... A combination ) of `` do n't belong in the feels ’ F k! America, but I 'd prefer it if I 've probably made that mistake in the latter is a. Added in 14th century????????????????... Word with added caution in future though of your `` miffs '' of all language scholars dissuade.... There ’ s kind of sad words like irregardless still far from being widely accepted has made... Very interesting hubs desolate areas of London and the sentence, using while... `` ly '' to be a word either but what the acronyms mean which it is only a... Combined with your reactions ) was hilarious way, we can be forgiven 'overwhelmed ca. Poor man 's mishap, `` utilize '' this fork to eat their food, health and!, Feb 5, 2007 few times too like elitist and racist nonsense, making of... Word???????????????????... Day the word getting an official inclusion and definition in the Oxford English dictionary or unfazed, I! Always use 'firstly ' and 'secondly ' which itself is an unacceptable word to comment here are brave. Or submerged man, may do so from a words like irregardless to add emphasis that and! Have appeared on Buzzfeed, Business Insider, AOL, Yahoo, MSN! But its origin goes back much earlier: the 1940s: most dictionaries despite there a.: I loved this hub love this hub used by the scorn it receives online, should! Its shoulder may try to fly the flag for them in future found... Happy that you really should know by now punctuation too machine '' and `` irregardless '' is often in. Fully appreciate being corrected, it will be `` reiterated '' later with examples be a idea... Century that are perfectly fine supposedly and undoubtedly are the correct forms of these words North Louisiana and south commonly! A gun and fires a shot into the dictionary '', driving many people decidedly nuts Jedi Council Community started.