When
to use 'with regard to' and when to use 'regarding'
Gauss
from germany asks:
I am completely confused by the following relationship terms. Would
you please give me a precise explanation and some proper examples?
Are they the same or similar in meaning and in use? 1. in relation
to / with relation to 2. with regard to / regarding 3. in connection
with
4. concerning
They
are very similar in meaning and use. The key issue, as you suggest,
is to know when and how to use them.
These expressions are sometimes
known as 'discourse markers'. 'Discourse' is the term used to denote
pieces of speech or writing that are longer than a sentence. They
are 'markers' because they help to point out the structure of discourse.
They make clear the connection between what we are going to say and
what has come earlier. They are used to focus attention and to signal
what we are going to talk about.
Such discourse markers will often
be found at the beginning of a sentence. They are all fairly formal
in tone and characteristic of formal or written discourse.
For
an example, let us eavesdrop on this business meeting. The personnel
manager of a company is responding to questions from members of staff.
'There are two major issues on today's agenda which we should
move on to before lunch. One is the question of non-taxable allowances
and the other is bonus or productivity payments. Now, with
regard to/in connection with/concerning the former, the position
of this organisation is quite clear...'
You
could also add 'with reference to' as a further alternative
and this would perhaps be most formal of all. This expression is frequently
used at the beginning of business letters:
'Dear Ms Irvine,
With reference to your fax of yesterday, I am pleased to inform you
that...'
Note
that expressions like as far as... is/am/are concerned and
as regards link discourse in a similar way, but these are slightly
less formal and more characteristic of spoken discourse:
'There is no doubt that in this country infectious diseases
such as tuberculosis and diphtheria are on the increase, but as
far as whooping cough is concerned / as regards
whooping cough, there are clear signs that it is on the wane.'
The
expression As far as I'm/we're concerned,... is also used colloquially
to indicate that you are stating your own position on something:
'As far as we were concerned, there was no point in remaining
at the site any longer.'
'As far as I'm concerned, you can go to Italy for Christmas.
I shall be quite happy here at home.'
A
final note about use of concerning. When placed later in a
sentence, it is sometimes used as an alternative to about or regarding:
'He refused to answer any questions concerning his private
life.'
'There was much discussion in Parliament concerning
the admission of homosexuals to the armed forces.'
