ENGLISH -26

 ENGLISH -26

SOME ‘LEARNED PEOPLE’ APPEAR ‘NOT LEARNED’ –AS YET

It makes a sad reading when we find some high placed professional anchors / speakers and such ‘handlers’ of English using  certain expressions -that do not enjoy acceptance by sources more authentic/ authoritative. Such authentic ones specify the correct form as against the improper usage liberally found among the News media [English] in India. It has been disturbing that despite the popularity such media enjoy there is callous indifference to prescribed norms that define the very quality of expressions. The item of discussion is” Which is correct “ with regard to” or with regards to” ?

1 ‘With regard to”                         2 “With regards to”

Before asserting –‘which is correct?’ it is logical and relevant to recognize the purpose of the phrase itself –as conceived by the dictates of grammar of that language.

‘With regard to’ is the correct phrase with the singular noun ‘regard’ It means ‘in relation to’ or ‘regarding’

Adding an unnecessary plural ‘S’ is a small error and it makes the effort ‘unprofessional’.

‘With regard to’ functions as a ‘prepositional phrase’ for an object as in

With regard to my stolen car, I have preferred a complaint with the police.

With regard to the proposed ‘Bill’, there was commotion in the legislative assembly. 

Thus, it is clear that ‘with regard to’ is the  right form of using the prepositional phrase  and the usage ‘with regards to’ is incorrect as laid out by stipulation of usage .

The plural form of this noun ‘regards’ means  affection or wishes and thus it significantly differs from the meaning of the singular form [regard= in relation to].

The following sentence makes it clear thus:

One can say Prem, please “ Pass on my regards to your father ,while your conversation was with regard to the health of Mr.  Prem’s father.

Another source emphatically states

“It doesn’t make sense to refer to a topic using the phrase with regards to.because it implies you are sending good wishes to that topic [source for the above two lines [ =Pro Writing Aid blog]

Another item that readily seems to confuse is “In future” or “In the future”

The two seemingly mean the same. But at least in British English,  A CLEAR DISTINCTION is conceived .

“In future” stands to mean from now on [implying a time-related specification].

“In the future” is the parallel of “In the past” either of which stands in vague reference to the time without specifying as to when. Eg: In the future travel to Delhi may take just an hour.  In the past travel to Delhi took several hours.

So, friends let us be ‘keen’ to use right terms as specified by language experts..

Information furnished by Dictionaries is gratefully acknowledged.

Regards

Prof. K.Raman