What Does "regardless of" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "Regardless of" is a compound preposition used to express concession or indifference. It indicates that the following information does not prevent or change the main action or fact; it essentially means "without being influenced by" or "no matter what."
- Typical sentence position: It is highly versatile and can appear in the initial, medial, or final position of a sentence.
- Register: It is generally neutral to formal. It is appropriate for academic papers, journalism, and professional correspondence, though it is also common in standard spoken English.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: It is almost always followed by a noun phrase (e.g., "regardless of the cost") or a noun clause often starting with "whether," "who," "what," or "how" (e.g., "regardless of how it looks").
- Punctuation rules: When it starts a sentence, it is typically followed by a comma after the introductory phrase. When used in the middle or end of a sentence to provide supplementary information, it is often set off by commas.
- Grammatical flexibility: It can be moved easily within a sentence to change emphasis. It cannot be easily negated (e.g., "not regardless of") because the phrase itself already implies a disregard for conditions.
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Placing it directly between a subject and its verb without commas can disrupt sentence flow. Additionally, using it without the preposition "of" (just "regardless") is grammatically distinct, usually functioning as an adverb at the end of a clause.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from regardless of on Ludwig.guru.
"Regardless of whether we win or lose." — newyorker.com
"Everyone, regardless of age, called him "sir"." — nytimes.com
"Payments are made regardless of negligence." — britannica.com
"This is true regardless of national income." — economist.com
"Regardless of the result, the corporation wins." — nytimes.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/regardless+of
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
Depending on the level of formality or the specific situation, you might want to vary your language.
| Phrase |
Context |
| despite |
More concise; used to show contrast when something happens even though there is an obstacle. |
| irrespective of |
Highly formal; often used in legal or official documents to mean 'without taking into account.' |
| no matter |
More idiomatic and common in spoken English; usually followed by a question word like 'who' or 'how.' |
| notwithstanding |
Very formal/literary; can be used before or after the noun phrase it modifies. |
| regardless |
Used as an adverb, typically at the end of a sentence, to mean 'anyway.' |
Common Mistakes
- Punctuation errors: Forgetting to set off a medial "regardless of" phrase with commas can lead to run-on thoughts.
- Redundancy: Using "regardless of" alongside other concessive markers like "but" or "although" in the same clause (e.g., "Although regardless of the rain, we went out").
- Nonstandard usage: Learners often mistakenly use 'irregardless of', which is considered nonstandard or redundant in formal writing. The prefix 'ir-' and the suffix '-less' create a double negative effect that is generally avoided by careful writers.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| Regardless of |
Concession / Indifference |
Neutral to Formal |
Initial, Medial, or Final |
FAQs
Can regardless of be used at both the beginning and the end of a sentence?
Yes, regardless of is highly flexible and can function as an introductory phrase followed by a comma or as a terminal phrase at the end of a sentence. When placed in the middle of a sentence, it acts as an interrupter and should be enclosed in commas to maintain clarity.
What is the difference between regardless of and despite?
While both express concession, despite usually suggests that a specific obstacle was overcome, whereas regardless of suggests that the factor is simply irrelevant to the outcome. You use despite to highlight a surprising contrast and regardless of to show that a condition has no influence on the situation.
Is it ever acceptable to use the word irregardless in a professional document?
No, you should avoid this because learners often mistakenly use irregardless of, which is considered nonstandard or redundant in formal writing. Stick to regardless of to ensure your prose remains professional, as "irregardless" is widely viewed as a grammatical error by editors and educators.