Use in regard to — no s. When you are introducing a topic, subject, or matter, the correct form is the singular: in regard to your application, in regard to the schedule, in regard to our meeting.
In regards to is a widespread error. Garner’s Modern American Usage classifies it at Stage 1 on the Language Change Index — the category for forms “rejected by virtually all educated people.” Merriam-Webster’s usage note identifies it plainly as a mistake. It is not a casual variant or an informal alternative. It is a nonstandard form that careful writers avoid in every context.
Why “Regard” Is Singular in This Phrase
The confusion starts with the word regard itself.
Regard traces to Old French regarder, meaning “to look at, to watch” — from re- (“back, again”) + garder (“to guard, keep watch”). The visual sense of directing attention toward something gave rise to the abstract sense of regard as focused consideration — the attention you direct toward a topic or subject.
In the phrase in regard to, the word regard functions as a noncount noun — the same grammatical category as attention, consideration, and focus. You would not write “in attentions to the invoice” or “with considerations to your request,” because these are abstract concepts you cannot count. The same principle applies: in regard to treats the word as a single, undivided concept of directed attention.
Adding an s to produce in regards to suggests that “regards” are countable, discrete things being distributed toward a topic — which is not what the phrase means, and not how the word functions here.
The Complete Family of “Regard” Phrases
There is a full set of standard and nonstandard forms in this family. Knowing all of them prevents errors across the board.
| Phrase | Status | Example |
|---|---|---|
| In regard to | Standard | In regard to your invoice, we need one more form. |
| With regard to | Standard | With regard to the proposal, we have no objections. |
| As regards | Standard | As regards the timeline, nothing has changed. |
| Regarding | Standard | Regarding your request, I’ll follow up Thursday. |
| In regards to | Nonstandard | ✗ — avoid in all writing |
| With regards to | Nonstandard | ✗ — avoid in all writing |
Both nonstandard forms — in regards to and with regards to — make the same error: adding a plural s to a noncount noun. Both should be replaced with the corresponding standard form.
“As Regards” — Why This One Takes the Plural
Writers often wonder why “as regards” is standard when “in regards to” is not — since both contain regards. The answer is that regards is playing a different grammatical role in each phrase.
In as regards, the word regards is not a plural noun. It is a verb — the third-person singular present tense of regard, meaning “concerns, relates to.” The phrase means “as this concerns” or “as far as this relates to.”
As regards the timeline, we expect to be on schedule. = As this matter concerns the timeline…
There is no s on regard because it has gone plural — it looks plural but is acting as a verb. As regards is an archaic but fully accepted formal phrase and is listed as standard by Merriam-Webster. The s in as regards cannot be borrowed as a model for in regards to, because the grammar is entirely different.
“Best Regards” — Why This One Also Uses the Plural
The familiarity of “Best regards” in email sign-offs is the single biggest reason writers mistakenly reach for “in regards to.” But best regards is a different structure entirely.
“Best regards” in an email closing is an elliptical noun phrase — a grammatically compressed version of “(With my) best regards.” Here, regards is a plural noun meaning well-wishes or warm expressions of goodwill. The full phrase is “I send you my best regards,” shortened to “Best regards.”
This regards — the plural noun meaning well-wishes — has no connection to the topic-introducing phrase “in regard to.” One is a greeting; the other is a preposition phrase. The only thing they share is the word regard. Letting the familiarity of one bleed into the other is what produces the error.
When “Regard” Is Correct as a Plural Noun
Regards (plural noun) is correct and standard in two specific uses:
Good wishes or warm greetings:
Please give my regards to the whole team.
She asked me to pass along her regards.
Best regards, followed by a name, closes most professional emails.
The verb “to regard” conjugated in the third-person singular:
The policy as it regards remote workers will be updated next quarter.
Outside these two uses, regard should stay singular. Any phrase introducing a topic — in regard to, with regard to — keeps the word in its noncount noun form with no s.
The Best Practical Advice: Just Use “About”
Garner’s Modern American Usage, the Chicago Manual of Style, and most editorial style guides share a consistent recommendation: all these phrases — in regard to, with regard to, as regards, and regarding — are often wordy. In most sentences, the single word about or concerning does the same job with less friction.
In regard to your application, we need one more document.
→ About your application, we need one more document.
→ Regarding your application, we need one more document. (also fine)
With regard to the proposed changes, we have no objections.
→ We have no objections to the proposed changes.
If you are already reaching for regarding, ask whether about would serve equally well. It usually does, and shorter is almost always better.
Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes
Mistake: In regards to your message, I’ll respond by Friday.
Fix: In regard to your message, I’ll respond by Friday. — or more directly: I’ll respond to your message by Friday.
Mistake: With regards to the proposal, we need more time.
Fix: With regard to the proposal, we need more time. — or: Regarding the proposal, we need more time.
Mistake: Thinking “as regards” is wrong because it contains regards.
Status: Not a mistake. As regards is standard — regards here is a verb, not a plural noun.
Mistake: Carrying the s from “best regards” into topic-introducing phrases.
Fix: “Best regards” is an elliptical noun phrase for well-wishes. It has no grammar in common with in regard to.
Examples Side by Side
In regard to your request, we’ve made the revisions. ✔
In regards to your request, we’ve made the revisions. ✗
With regard to the budget, we’ll revisit it in Q3. ✔
With regards to the budget, we’ll revisit it in Q3. ✗
As regards the schedule, all deadlines remain in place. ✔ (verb form — standard)
Please send her my regards. ✔ (plural noun — well-wishes)
Regarding the contract, section three needs your attention. ✔
About the contract, section three needs your attention. ✔ (simpler alternative)
Quick Practice
Choose the standard form.
- [In regard to / In regards to] your invoice, we noticed a discrepancy.
- She sent her [regard / regards] to everyone on the team.
- [As regards / As regard] the new policy, the implementation date is unchanged.
- [With regard to / With regards to] the findings, the committee will meet Thursday.
- The simplest replacement for “in regard to” in most sentences is [about / regards].
Answers: 1. In regard to — 2. regards (plural noun, well-wishes) — 3. As regards (verb form, standard) — 4. With regard to — 5. about
FAQs
Is “in regards to” grammatically correct?
No — at least not in standard edited writing. Garner’s Modern American Usage classifies it as a Stage 1 error on the Language Change Index, meaning it is rejected by virtually all educated readers. Merriam-Webster’s usage note also identifies it as an error. It is common in casual speech, but that does not make it standard.
What is the correct phrase — “in regard to” or “with regard to”?
Both are correct. In regard to and with regard to are interchangeable, both meaning “concerning” or “about.” Neither takes an s on regard.
Why does “as regards” use the plural if “in regards to” is wrong?
Because in as regards, the word regards is a verb — the third-person singular present tense of to regard, meaning “concerns” or “relates to.” It is not a plural noun. The grammar of as regards is entirely different from in regard to, so the s in one cannot be applied to the other.
Why is “best regards” correct if “in regards to” isn’t?
They use regards in completely different ways. “Best regards” is an elliptical noun phrase for “(With my) best regards” — regards here is a plural noun meaning well-wishes. In regard to uses regard as a noncount noun meaning directed attention or consideration. The two uses have no grammar in common.
Can I just use “regarding” instead?
Yes, in most contexts. Regarding your application, we need one more form is standard, concise, and widely accepted. It avoids the singular-versus-plural question entirely. Even more concise: About your application, we need one more form.
Is “with regards to” also wrong?
Yes. With regards to makes the same error as in regards to — adding a plural s to a noncount noun in a topic-introducing phrase. The correct form is with regard to.
The Bottom Line
Use in regard to and with regard to — singular, no s — when introducing a topic. Both are standard and interchangeable. As regards is also standard, but only because regards there is a verb, not a noun. Best regards uses a plural noun for well-wishes — a grammatically separate use that cannot be imported into topic-introducing phrases. In regards to and with regards to are both nonstandard errors, not casual alternatives. And if you find yourself writing any of these phrases, consider whether about or concerning would be cleaner — it usually is.
Conclusion
“In regard to” is the correct, standard phrase for introducing a topic in US English. “In regards to” is a common but incorrect variant, mixed up with the plural “regards” used for greetings and well-wishes. When in doubt, drop the “s,” or simplify further with “regarding.”
