in/with regards to/of (regarding, with regard to)

Many writers type or say "in regards to" or "with regards to" out of habit. Standard English uses the singular: in regard to, with regard to, or the shorter regarding. In casual speech you can often replace them with about.

If you see the plural form, change it. Below are clear rules, natural examples, and quick rewrites you can paste into your drafts.

Quick answer

Don't add an s. Use regarding, in regard to, or with regard to (singular). For informal tone, use about.

Wrong: in regards to / with regards to / in regards of
Correct (concise): regarding
Correct (formal): in regard to / with regard to
Casual alternative: about

Is "In/With Regards to/Of" correct?

No-it's nonstandard. Readers usually treat the plural forms as typos. Use regarding, in regard to, or with regard to instead.

Wrong: We spoke in regards to the schedule.
Right: We spoke regarding the schedule. / We spoke with regard to the schedule.

Regarding, with regard to, spacing, and hyphenation

"Regarding" is one word. "In regard to" and "with regard to" are three-word phrases. Avoid mixing them or adding an extra s.

When in doubt, trust common written forms rather than how something sounds in speech. If a sentence still feels clunky after a direct swap, rewrite it.

Prefer "regarding" for short, neutral sentences.
Prefer "with regard to" when you want a slightly more formal tone.
Avoid "in regards to," "with regards to," and "in regards of."

Why writers make this mistake

The plural form appears plausible in speech, and quick typing or guessing about spacing creates errors. Once the wrong form sticks, it repeats across drafts.

Sound-based guessing
Confusion over spacing
Overcorrection from hearing similar phrases
Typing fast without proofreading

How it sounds in real writing

Seeing the correct forms in natural sentences helps them stick. Below are practical, everyday versions for work, school, and casual contexts.

Work: With regard to the migration, we expect to finish by Friday.
Work: Regarding the budget, please send your revisions by Tuesday.
Work: In regard to your request, we can offer two options.
School: Regarding the final draft, one more revision should suffice.
School: With regard to sources, cite the original article.
School: In regard to the lab schedule, everyone must sign up.
Casual: About dinner-six works for me.
Casual: Regarding the game, I'll be late.
Casual: With regard to plans, let's decide tonight.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not just the phrase. Context often shows whether a direct swap or a rewrite reads best.

Wrong vs right examples you can copy

Six common wrong/right pairs. Each correct version uses a standard form or a cleaner rewrite.

Wrong: In regards to the budget, we need cuts.
Right: With regard to the budget, we need cuts. / Regarding the budget, we need cuts.
Wrong: The update is in regards of the system changes.
Right: The update concerns the system changes. / The update is regarding the system changes.
Wrong: I emailed you in regarding the trip.
Right: I emailed you regarding the trip.
Wrong: With regards to your question, I disagree.
Right: With regard to your question, I disagree.
Wrong: This report is in regards to last quarter.
Right: This report is regarding last quarter.
Wrong: Is that in regards of the meeting?
Right: Is that regarding the meeting?

How to fix your own sentence

Don't just swap phrases-check tone and flow. A direct replacement often works, but a rewrite can be clearer.

Step 1: Identify the idea the phrase expresses (topic, concern, reference).
Step 2: Try a direct replacement: regarding / in regard to / with regard to.
Step 3: If it reads awkwardly, rewrite the clause using about, concerns, or restructure the sentence.

Original: This plan is In/With Regards to/Of if everyone stays late.
Rewrite: This plan will work if everyone stays late. / Regarding the plan, it will work if everyone stays late.
Original: The assignment feels In/With Regards to/Of now.
Rewrite: The assignment feels manageable now. / Regarding the assignment, it feels manageable now.
Original: Is that In/With Regards to/Of this afternoon?
Rewrite: Is that regarding this afternoon? / As for this afternoon, is that okay?

A simple memory trick

Picture the standard form as a single unit of meaning. If you can replace the phrase with about or concerns, use the standard written form instead of adding an s.

Visualize "regarding" or "with regard to" as one block.
Search your document for the plural error and fix them in bulk.
Prefer concise alternatives when they sound natural.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Once a writer slips on one spacing or form issue, nearby phrases often suffer the same fate. Scan for these patterns.

Split words (every day vs everyday)
Hyphen confusion (well-known vs well known)
Verb-form errors (lie/lay, affect/effect)
Mixing word classes (use a noun where a verb fits)

FAQ

Is "in regards to" ever correct?

No. In standard usage, prefer in regard to or with regard to (singular), or regarding. The plural form is considered nonstandard.

Can I use regarding in a formal email?

Yes. Regarding is neutral and widely accepted in both formal and informal writing. Use with regard to if you want a slightly more formal tone.

What's the difference between "with regard to" and "in regard to"?

They mean the same thing and are interchangeable. "With regard to" can sound marginally more formal, but both are correct.

Is "as regards" acceptable?

As regards is idiomatic in British English and OK in formal British usage. For a broad international audience, regarding or with regard to is safer.

Quick fix: how do I replace "in regards to" across a document?

Search for the phrase and replace with regarding for concise fixes or with/in regard to for formality. When a sentence still sounds off, rewrite the clause (use about, concerns, or restructure the sentence).

Fix one sentence now

Found "in regards to" in your draft? Replace it with regarding or with/in regard to, or rewrite the clause entirely. Paste a sentence into the checker widget above for context-aware suggestions.