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concerning or in relation to a particular subject
With regard to the recent changes in policy, employees will receive a detailed memo.
This shows the phrase is used to introduce a topic related to policy changes.
The report focuses on several key areas, with special regard to sustainability.
Here, it highlights a specific focus within the report.
This phrase is often interchangeable with 'regarding', 'in regard to', or 'concerning', but 'with regard to' is more formal and commonly used in written or official contexts.
For casual conversations, use 'about' or 'regarding'. Reserve 'with regard to' for formal documents, emails, or speeches to maintain a professional tone.
Always follow 'with regard to' with a noun or noun phrase (e.g., 'with regard to the meeting'). Do not use it with a verb (e.g., 'with regard to going' is incorrect).
Do not pair 'with regard to' with other prepositions like 'about' or 'on'. For example, 'with regard to about the issue' is incorrect.
The phrase 'with regard to' combines the Old English 'wiþ' (against, towards) and 'regard' (from Old French 'regarder', meaning to look at or consider). The prepositional use of 'with regard to' emerged in the 16th century as a formal way to introduce a topic.
This phrase is typically used in formal writing, business communication, or academic contexts. It is less common in casual speech. Avoid redundancy by not combining it with other prepositions (e.g., 'with regard to about' is incorrect).