Irregardless, I'd Use It Sparingly

Few words in the English language prompt as much debate as 'irregardless.'

An evident mash-up of  'irrespective' and 'regardless,' the word affects some readers like sandpaper on a sunburn. Because of these strong feelings, I'd recommend against using it. 'Regardless' will do the same work, without the stigma.

An exception: If you have a character you want the reader to view as pompous, you might want to slip an 'irregardless' or two into his dialogue.

Is it a word? Is it not a word?

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary includes it as a nonstandard variant for 'regardless.' You can see it in all its glory here.

See? See, Writer

The rise of digital publishing means anyone with a story to tell can... well, tell it.

The purpose of this blog is to help writers learn guidelines for English grammar and style.

The goal isn't to write the definitive word on any subject, as there exist ample resources for writers with the time and inclination to do the research.

The goal is to provide short introductions to topics, which can be digested in two minutes or less, to help writers identify their own problem areas.

It's okay to break some rules. First, though, it's good to know what they are.