Is 'irregardless' a real word? Can I use it an essay? I hear lots of different things about it and would like your opinion. Thanks in advance.
Ooh ... we have strong opinions about this. Technically, it's a "real" word—it's in the dictionary, after all. However, it's considered an informal variant of "regardless" or "irrespective." In fact, we think of it as the "bastard child" of those two words. Don't use "irregardless" in anything that matters (school papers, professional emails, etc.). Just use "regardless" and save yourself a ton of grief and drama. Doing so will also keep the Grammar Nazis and Grammar Police away. 😉
