“Irregardless” is one of those words that drive some people crazy because “it’s not a real word”. (The “real” word would be “regardless”).
But it is according to the Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, and American Heritage dictionaries. Here’s what Merriam Webster says:
The reason we, and these dictionaries above, define irregardless is very simple: it meets our criteria for inclusion. This word has been used by a large number of people (millions) for a long time (over two hundred years) with a specific and identifiable meaning (“regardless”). The fact that it is unnecessary, as there is already a word in English with the same meaning (regardless) is not terribly important; it is not a dictionary’s job to assess whether a word is necessary before defining it. The fact that the word is generally viewed as nonstandard, or as illustrative of poor education, is likewise not important; dictionaries define the breadth of the language, and not simply the elegant parts at the top.
Merriam-Webster
Here’s the link: Is ‘Irregardless’ a Real Word?.
So, all you angry, snooty people, suck it up. It’s a word irregardless of what you might think. 😉
The Truth? YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Colonel Jessup (Jack Nicholson), A Few Good Men
Very interesting. I also thought it was an incorrect version of regardless and therefore, not a real word. Now I know better!
I get “Word of the Day” emails sent daily by Merriam-Webster-Webster. They also have several word-related articles that you can read. This was one of them.
I use “regardless”…it has 2 less letters!
Did you mean 2 fewer letters 😉
Dang it; yes I did!