'With regard ...' vs. 'regards ... to'

[Ch01_Kelly]

Dear Torsten and alan:

I have a doubt on this. Do you say "with regard to" or "with regards to" ?
I found it written or said in both ways, are the two of them correct?

Thank you very much.

[Alan]

Hi,

An interesting question, thank you. Sometimes expressions get muddled up and very often the muddled expressions then become acceptable but at the moment these two expressions are different in construction. With regard to means about or concerning. The other expression is as regards, which means very much the same. All I can imagine is that what you have seen is a muddled up version of the two. The other complication is that regards can also be used to mean good wishes as in send my regards to your uncle.

Hope this helps

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Ch01_Kelly]

It's clearer now. Thank you Alan

[Nandayure]

Dear Alan,

I am an English Second Language speaker and I was looking for the use of "regards" when I found your explanation.

I have a doubt related to the use of "in this regards" as a conector in the beginning of a paragraph. Could you please confirm what is the correct way to say such expression "in this regards" or "in this regard"?

Thank you!

Nandayure Le?n Valenzuela

[Torsten]

It is either in this regard (singular) or in these regards (plural).

TOEIC listening, photographs: Storage racks

[Guest]

I don't have an exact answer, but consider the following:

Business English is deadly enough without scrambling it. “As regards your downsizing plan . . .” is acceptable, if stiff. “In regard to” “and “with regard to” are also correct. But “in regards to” is nonstandard. You can also convey the same idea with “in respect to” or “with respect to.”

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/regard.html

[Alan]

Hi,

Thanks for that. All those expressions sound a bit wordy. I think I prefer the one word: concerning.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Sictransit]

Hello Alan,

I realise that we are some years since the original query and your replies, but I have a related question and would appreciate your assistance.

I have often seen different versions of the phrase written. Most of these conform with your examples above. However, I was wondering if 'to' is always required?

For example, "auteur theory is especially pertinent with regards autonomous experimental directors, but less so when concerning mainstream directors".

I am sure that I have seen the phrase written without the 'to', but this could have simply come down to poor grammar on the part of the writer, or possibly subject-specific grammar - trends forming within certain subjects, such as cinema-specific words: diegetic, intra-diegetic, extra-diegetic, et cetera.

Thanks,
Sergei (Film student, if you had not guessed with the film-related example and words).

[Alan]

Hi,

I tend to say either with 'regard to or simply 'regarding' or 'as regards' in this sort of example:

I find your explanation regarding/with regard to/as regards the theory, quite acceptable

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Sictransit]

Thanks Alan!