The standard phrase is with regard to, with a singular regard. “With regards to” is extremely common in everyday writing, but many editors and style guides treat it as nonstandard, especially in formal documents. If you want to avoid that kind of slip in emails and reports, a real-time checker like TypoGuard can flag it as you type.
What “With Regard To” Means
With regard to is a formal way of saying about, concerning, or regarding. It introduces the topic you are going to discuss:
“With regard to your application, we will reply by Friday.”
“I have a question with regard to the invoice.”
Why “Regard” Is Singular
In this phrase, regard is a noun meaning reference or relation. You are talking in relation to a topic, so there is only one “regard” and no reason for a plural. The plural regards has a different meaning: good wishes or greetings. That is why “with regards to the contract” can read as if you are sending greetings to the contract.
Where “Regards” Is Correct
The plural form belongs in greetings and sign-offs:
Kind regards, best regards, warm regards
“Please give my regards to your family.”
Here “regards” really does mean good wishes, so the “s” is correct.
What Dictionaries and Usage Panels Say
Major dictionaries list with regard to and in regard to as standard phrases for introducing a topic. The plural versions fare worse among language experts. According to The Free Dictionary, which reproduces American Heritage Dictionary usage notes, barely six percent of the Usage Panel accepted “in regards to” in a 2004 survey. That does not make the plural phrase unintelligible, but it explains why formal writers avoid it.
“In Regard To,” “As Regards,” and “Regarding”
Several related forms are worth knowing:
in regard to = correct, same meaning as with regard to
as regards = correct and slightly formal, an established idiom that keeps the “s”
regarding = correct, shorter, and often the cleanest choice
in regards to = widely used, but considered nonstandard
Simpler Alternatives
In many sentences, a shorter word works better than any form of the phrase. Try about, regarding, concerning, on the subject of, or re in an email subject line:
“Re: the meeting on Tuesday”
“A quick question about your quote”
Examples in Context
“With regard to the new policy, please read the attached summary.”
Not: “With regards to the new policy, please read the attached summary.”
“Kind regards, Maria”
“As regards the budget, we are on track.”
Catch It Before You Hit Send
A plural “regards” slips past most spellcheckers, because both words are real. TypoGuard’s free grammar checker reads the whole sentence as you write and flags this kind of usage problem in real time across Gmail, chats, and forms.
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