> From: catman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> irregardless
> I first noticed this word a little while ago and assumed that it had been a
> mistake. I
> have now seen it sevral times in print from Americans and heard an American
> say the word
> on a news program.
> Are they all making a mistake or is that how you say 'regardless'?
That is how a lot of people say it and, yes, they are all making a mistake.
The problem stems from the similarity between irregardless and words like
irrespective and irrelevant. Usage, however, may ultimately determine the
acceptability of such a meaningless word in much the same way that hopefully
is now widely accepted to mean "it is to be hoped".
Ranger Rick, who loves being didactic when it comes to language.
