It's "regardless" not "irregardless"
Twice on my favorite news programs (Countdown and Hardball), I've heard someone use the word "irregardless." Most people know that "irregardless" is one of those words that experienced writers shun like a leper. Its reputation is regarded even more loathingly than many "four-letter words."
- Last week, Wednesday (11.09.05) or Thursday (11.10.05) I believe, Chris Matthews used "irregardless" on Hardball during a bumper (scroll down to "bumper") into a commercial while promoting an upcoming segment of the show.
- This past Friday (11.11.05) on Countdown, reporter Roger O'Neill used "irregardless" on a piece about language, indicating that it isn't a word and you can't find it in a dictionary. He made a big deal about it not being found in a dictionary.
"Irregardless" is one of those words that everyday Americans pull out of the subconscious like a magician pulls a coin out of an ear. Another example is the frequent misuse of the word "fortuitous." Both have been so frequently used, people don't give them any thought. That's probably why they are in the dictionary -- because they're used often, even if they're improper.
I decided to share with the Countdown and Hardball folks and you what I had discovered. A little fact-checking will do wonders to strengthen a claim (or avoid an error), especially with word zealots on-guard.
2 Comments:
Even if a word can be found in a dictionary, I'm still not convinced that it belongs in everyday speech. Irregardless annoys me to no end, even if Merriam-Webster deems it worthy of inclusion.
Beyond the discussion of this one word - which I immensely enjoyed reading, by the way - lies the overarching truth that language is a liquid entity, shifting in all sorts of unpredictable directions dictated by the evolution of society and its mores.
Great topic treatment.
Good observations. I harbor a short list of words that annoy me: "irregardless," "impact" used as a verb, and "importantly" used as an introductory clause, to mention just a few. The problem with our language is that people misuse words and misuse certain words so often the misuse becomes part of the vernacular. Impact as a verb is a prime example. It sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it.
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