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In Regard vs Regards — What’s the Difference?

In regard to means “concerning” or “with respect to” and is the standard, grammatically correct form. In regards to is a common variant that adds an unnecessary “s” and is widely considered nonstandard by style guides. The key difference: “in regard to” is the accepted formal usage, while “in regards to” is a frequent error that blends two separate expressions. Many writers confuse these because “regards” appears in the perfectly correct phrase “as regards,” leading them to insert the plural into “in regard to” where it does not belong.

Why Getting This Right Matters

Mixing up “in regard to” and “in regards to” is one of the most common phrase-level errors in professional English writing. In a cover letter, writing “in regards to the open position” signals carelessness to hiring managers who know the correct form. In academic papers, it can undermine your authority before the reader even reaches your argument. And in business emails, it creates a subtle impression of imprecision — your reader may not consciously identify the error, but it registers as a lack of polish that colors their perception of your competence.

What Does “In Regard To” Mean?

“In regard to” is a prepositional phrase that means “concerning,” “about,” or “with respect to.” It is the standard form recognized by every major style guide, including The Chicago Manual of Style, the AP Stylebook, and Garner’s Modern English Usage. The word “regard” here functions as a singular noun meaning “reference” or “relation,” which is why no plural “s” is needed.

You will encounter “in regard to” most often in formal and professional contexts: business letters, legal documents, academic writing, and official reports. It serves as a slightly more formal alternative to “about” or “regarding.” For example, “I am writing in regard to the open position” carries a professional tone that suits cover letters and corporate emails alike.

Some writers prefer shorter alternatives. “Regarding,” “concerning,” and even a simple “about” can often replace “in regard to” and make your sentence more concise. Still, “in regard to” remains perfectly correct and appropriate when you want a measured, formal register. The phrase dates back centuries in English and has a well-established place in standard usage.

What Does “In Regards To” Mean?

“In regards to” is a variant that many speakers and writers use interchangeably with “in regard to.” However, most language authorities flag it as nonstandard. The added “s” likely comes from a conflation of two separate expressions: “in regard to” and “as regards.” Both of those are correct on their own, but blending them creates “in regards to,” which is neither one nor the other.

Garner’s Modern English Usage classifies “in regards to” as a Stage 2 error, meaning it appears frequently but has not gained acceptance among careful writers. The AP Stylebook similarly advises against the plural form. That said, language evolves, and “in regards to” has become so common in everyday speech that some linguists consider it an emerging standard in informal contexts.

If you are writing a casual email to a friend, “in regards to” is unlikely to cause confusion. But in professional, academic, or published writing, the singular “in regard to” is the safer and more widely respected choice. When in doubt, you can sidestep the issue entirely by using “regarding” or “about.”

Key Differences Between In Regard To and In Regards To

The central distinction is one of standard usage versus common error. “In regard to” follows the traditional grammar rule: the noun “regard” is singular because it refers to a single act of considering or referencing something. “In regards to” adds a plural marker that has no grammatical justification within this particular phrase.

Think of it this way: you would say “with regard to” (singular) just as you say “in this regard” (singular). The word “regard” in these fixed expressions means “respect” or “reference,” and it stays singular. The plural “regards” has its own legitimate uses, such as “give my regards to your family” (where “regards” means “good wishes”) or “as regards the budget” (a different construction entirely where “regards” functions as a verb meaning “concerns”).

The linguistic why: This confusion is classified as a fixed-phrase error — a mistake that occurs within an idiomatic prepositional phrase. The phrase “in regard to” is a fixed expression where “regard” functions as an uncountable abstract noun meaning “reference” or “consideration.” The error arises from cross-contamination between two legitimate expressions: “in regard to” (where “regard” is a noun) and “as regards” (where “regards” is a verb conjugated in the third person singular). Speakers mentally blend these two patterns, producing the nonstandard hybrid “in regards to.” This type of phrasal contamination is well-documented in linguistics and is sometimes called a conflation error.

Grammatical category: This is a fixed-expression confusion involving singular-noun vs. verb-form overlap within prepositional phrases. Garner’s Modern English Usage (4th edition) classifies “in regards to” as a Stage 2 error on the Language-Change Index, meaning it occurs frequently but has not gained acceptance in standard edited prose. The AP Stylebook explicitly recommends the singular form.

Another helpful distinction: formality level. Writers who are attentive to grammar norms will almost always use the singular form. If you see “in regards to” in a published book or reputable newspaper, it is usually an oversight rather than a deliberate style choice. The plural form has not crossed the threshold into accepted standard English, despite its widespread spoken use.

Finally, consider your audience. In a job application, a legal brief, or an academic paper, “in regards to” may signal carelessness to a reader who knows the difference. In a text message, no one will notice or care. Matching your usage to your context is always the smartest strategy.

In Regard To vs In Regards To — Examples in Context

Correct: In regard to your question about the deadline, the project is due Friday.
Incorrect: In regards to your question about the deadline, the project is due Friday.

Correct: The committee made a statement in regard to the proposed policy changes.
Incorrect: The committee made a statement in regards to the proposed policy changes.

Correct: I have a few concerns with regard to the contract terms.
Incorrect: I have a few concerns with regards to the contract terms.

Correct: As regards the budget, we need to cut spending by 10%.
(Note: “as regards” is a separate, correct expression where “regards” is a verb.)

Correct: Please send my regards to your mother.
(Here “regards” correctly means “good wishes” — a different usage entirely.)

Correct: Regarding the meeting, I will be five minutes late.
(“Regarding” is a concise alternative that avoids the regard/regards question.)

Correct: In regard to the merger, both boards have approved the deal.
Incorrect: In regards to the merger, both boards have approved the deal.

Correct: She spoke at length in regard to workplace safety.
Incorrect: She spoke at length in regards to workplace safety.

Professional email: “I am writing in regard to the invoice discrepancy reported last week.” ✓

Common mistake: “I am writing in regards to the invoice discrepancy reported last week.” ✗ (The plural “regards” is nonstandard in this fixed prepositional phrase.)

Academic writing: “In regard to the methodology, the researchers employed a double-blind design.” ✓

Common mistake: “In regards to the methodology, the researchers employed a double-blind design.” ✗ (Style guides including Chicago Manual of Style require the singular form.)

Casual/social media: “in regard to everyone asking — yes, we’re releasing the new flavor next month!” ✓

Common mistake: “in regards to everyone asking — yes, we’re releasing the new flavor next month!” ✗ (Even in casual contexts, the singular form is standard.)

Job application: “In regard to the Senior Analyst role posted on your careers page, I would like to submit my application.” ✓

Common mistake: “In regards to the Senior Analyst role posted on your careers page, I would like to submit my application.” ✗ (In cover letters, this error signals inattention to detail.)

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most frequent mistake is simply adding that extra “s.” Because we hear “in regards to” so often in casual speech, it can feel natural on the page. Train yourself to pause whenever you type the phrase and ask: “Am I using ‘in regard to’ or ‘as regards’?” If neither of those fits your sentence, you are probably creating a hybrid that will not pass editorial scrutiny.

Another common error is using “in regard to” when a simpler word would be better. “About” or “regarding” can replace it in most sentences, and your writing will be tighter for it. Long prepositional phrases can weigh down your prose, so reserve “in regard to” for situations where the extra formality serves a purpose.

Watch out for the related phrase “with regard to” as well. Like “in regard to,” it takes the singular form. Writing “with regards to” is the same type of error. Keep both versions singular and you will be correct every time. For more tips on commonly confused phrases, see our guide on any way vs anyway.

The #1 mistake pattern: The error appears most frequently in the opening line of professional emails: “In regards to your email of March 15th…” This is the exact position where the error does the most damage, because it is the very first thing the reader sees. Proofreading your opening sentence is the single highest-value habit you can build.

The exception that proves the rule: The phrase “as regards” (with an “s”) is completely correct — here, “regards” is a verb meaning “concerns,” not a plural noun. “As regards the budget, we are on track.” This legitimate construction is precisely what leads writers to assume “in regards to” must also be correct.

Non-native speaker note: Speakers of Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese) often find this error particularly confusing because their equivalent phrases — “en cuanto a,” “en ce qui concerne,” “per quanto riguarda” — do not involve a singular/plural distinction on the key noun, making the English rule feel arbitrary.

Quick Memory Trick

Remember this: one regard, one topic. When you are referring to one subject, you need only one “regard” — no plural. Save the “s” for when you are sending good wishes: “Best regards.” If you are talking about something, keep it singular. You can also swap in “regarding” any time you are unsure — it is always correct and sidesteps the whole debate. For similar word-choice clarity, check out fewer vs less.

Related Confused Word Pairs

If you found this guide helpful, you might also enjoy these breakdowns of other tricky word pairs:

• Any Way vs Anyway
• Fewer vs Less
• Migration vs Immigration

For a complete grammar-checking solution, see our best free Grammarly alternative for students.

FAQ

Is “in regards to” ever acceptable?
In casual speech and informal writing, “in regards to” is widely used and understood. However, all major style guides recommend “in regard to” (singular) for formal and professional writing. If accuracy matters, stick with the singular form.

What is the difference between “in regard to” and “as regards”?
Both mean “concerning,” but they are different grammatical constructions. In “in regard to,” the word “regard” is a noun. In “as regards,” the word “regards” is a verb meaning “concerns.” Both are correct; just do not mix them into “in regards to.”

Can I just use “regarding” instead?
Absolutely. “Regarding” is a perfectly correct and more concise alternative. It avoids the singular-versus-plural debate entirely and works in both formal and informal writing.

Is “with regards to” correct?
No. Like “in regards to,” the phrase “with regards to” adds an unnecessary plural. The correct form is “with regard to.” The only time “regards” is correct in a closing or greeting is when it means “good wishes,” as in “Kind regards.”

Why do so many people say “in regards to”?
It likely comes from blending “in regard to” with “as regards.” Both are correct separately, but the crossover creates a nonstandard hybrid. Frequency of use in speech has normalized it, but it has not yet been accepted in edited prose.