What does "irregardless" mean?

[begin_within]

I keep reading this from time to time. Does "irregardless" mean "regardless" or the opposite of "regardless?"

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. Irregardless is not a word!!

Regardless is the word people should be using. Please don't get me started. I can go grammar nazi in 2.5 seconds. :evilgrin:

[SeattleGirl]

4. You are absolutely right, YRD!

Drives me bats when I hear people use that word. (I'm a not-so-closeted grammar nazi.)

[texas1928]

11. Well irregardless of that...

Are you sure in 2.5 seconds?





























:hide:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

23. OK, so it took longer. I was busy...

I was taking off a really bad nail job. Thank God, I can type now!!
If I didn't love you so much, texas, I don't know if I'd be so nice. :evilgrin:
Duckie

[begin_within]

14. Well, then I have a grammar question for you.

In high school we were frequently told to "compare and contrast" two things. When you compare two things, you make a comparison. When you contrast two things, what do you make?

[TroubleMan]

15. To constrast two thing, you specifically look at the differences

When you compare, you look at both differences and similarities. I'm guessing that when they said "compare" they meant to look at similarities.

[begin_within]

16. I'm looking for the exact word. When you compare two things, the result

is a comparison. When you contrast two things, the result is a ____________?

[TroubleMan]

19. Post 17 was meant to be the reply to this post

ny.

[TroubleMan]

17. differentiation?

:shrug:

[begin_within]

24. Works for me

[CTyankee]

36. Yup. I used that word once and only once.

My father told me sternly, "You can say 'regardless' or 'irrespective' but there is no such word as 'irregardless.'"

[bridgit]

2. i know huh, i mean if it's regard-less; already regarding less...

then irregardless could mean: regards :shrug:

signed, warm irregardlessness

:-)

[AirmensMom]

3. From m-w.com:

"usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that "there is no such word." There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead."


We always joke that it means "not without regard." :hi:

[TroubleMan]

13. oops you beat me to it.

lol

[Xipe Totec]

5. irregardless means "I'm an uncultured boob"

It is a mangling of regardless (without regard) and irrespective (without respecting).

irregardless means without (without regard), which means regarding, or in reference to.

God, I hate it! :puke:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

25. Correction...

It means "I'm an uncultured boob who thinks I'm cultured." You know those same people who say "myself" instead of just "me?" Those people.

[Xipe Totec]

28. I stand corrected

:thumbsup:

[EstimatedProphet]

6. It means someone doesn't know correct English

[grannylib]

7. It means people can't speak English!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Verbal diarrhea, mental constipation

I prescribe a dictionary.

[Xipe Totec]

9. LOL!

Terse.

Love it!

[johnnie]

10. It means

Some people weren't teached good.

[TroubleMan]

12. according to Merriam Webster:

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/irregardless

One entry found for irregardless.
Main Entry: ir·re·gard·less
Pronunciation: "ir-i-'gärd-l&s
Function: adverb
Etymology: probably blend of irrespective and regardless
nonstandard : REGARDLESS
usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that "there is no such word." There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.

[pitohui]

18. it means exactly the same thing as regardless

we are not the grammar police, why pretend we are

[WritingIsMyReligion]

20. Nothing. It's not a word.

:D :P

[sendero]

21. 'Bout the same as..

... "reoccuring", which is also not a word but people say it all the time.

[uppityperson]

22. why do inflammable and flammable both mean they burn easily?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

26. Because the prefix "in-" is not always a negative prefix...

Inflammable is actually an anglicized verson of "enflammable" from the word "enflame." Because of the potential misunderstanding as to whether the substance in front of you could burst into flames at a moment's notice, the word "flammable" was coined later to remove any doubt. Basically, if you see a placard with big red flames on it -- best advice is to extinguish all smoking materials and right quick.

[beyurslf]

27. Nothing. It is not a word.

[DrGonzoLives]

29. Definition:

"I'm a person of average intelligence using a word of many syllables to try and sound smarter than I am."

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. It means we spend way too much time nitpicking people trying to prove

our superior intelligence instead of listening to what it is they are trying to say.

[bridgit]

31. k...

guess i'll go sit down now, mom :yoiks:

[wildhorses]

32. you ARE the smartest poster in this thread

irregardless of what they may think;)
:hi::hug:







ps I never thought about this word until I saw the thread

[bridgit]

34. k...

:rofl:

[In_The_Wind]

35. By jove, I think you've got it!

[Chovexani]

33. It means the person is making up words

:P