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Regardless, Anyway

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Dimandja

Programmer
Apr 29, 2002
2,720
US
Are regardless and anyway interchangeable?

I can deal with: "He'll do it anyway".

But, "He'll do it regardless" sounds as if it begs the question "regardless of what?".
 
Dimandja,

"regardless abandon" does not return any hits at all from Google.

I found one ;-).

The quote reads as following:

Code:
If we are not responsible, then we do not need to waste time worrying about it.  [u]Regardless, abandon[/u] the cause of the hardship and pursue the solution to the burden!

With the comma between the two, it makes much more sense.
 
That's a nice example Stella740pl, but it is not using 'regardless' as an adjective like I did in my example. Your example is using regardless as an adverb, and in your example it could be replaced with 'anyway'.

Generally speaking, whenever 'regardless' is used as an adverb, it can be replaced with 'anyway'. Whenever 'regardless' is used as an adjective, it cannot be replaced with 'anyway'. However the reverse is not necessarily true. The adverb 'anyway' cannot always be replaced with the adverb 'regardless', as is the case in my previously given example.

Good Luck
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but it is not using 'regardless' as an adjective like I did in my example. Your example is using regardless as an adverb, and in your example it could be replaced with 'anyway'.

I know. That's why I preceded it with ;-).

 
I still can't figure out what "regardless abandon" means.
 
It means that you gave into your impulses without regard of the consequences.

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Only if you consider reckless synomymous with regardless.

It is quite possible that one carefully considers the consequences and then makes an informed decision to proceed regardless of those consequences. That would be different from someone who one proceeds without even considering the consequences might be.

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To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
 
Dimandja,

Sorry, I failed to mention that I was talking about "anyway" and the correctness of its use in place of "any way."

I now have to reverse myself regarding "regardless."

M-W lists it as an adverb meaning "despite everything", so "He'll do it regardless." is correct usage.

It's also an adjective meaning "heedless or careless", so abandon can definitely be regardless.

Personally, I'll continue to avoid using the "anywise" sense of "anyway" and sentences ending in "regardless" (except when used in the manner of the preceding sentence :)).

They may be correct usage, but I don't think they scan very well.





Rod Knowlton
IBM Certified Advanced Technical Expert pSeries and AIX 5L
CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA Security+

 
>It's also an adjective meaning "heedless or careless", so abandon can definitely be regardless.

Except there is no mention of it on Google or MSN. That's close to 10 billion searchable pages of Internet floatsam. Anyway, as soon as this thread makes it there, there will be a mention. [wink]
 
Dimandja said:
Except there is no mention of it on Google or MSN.
Do you mean to imply that Google or MSN are to be treated as definitive sources, or that something is not true unless you can find it via an Internet search engine?

Good Luck
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To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
 
>Do you mean to imply that Google or MSN are to be treated as definitive sources, or that something is not true unless you can find it via an Internet search engine?

Not at all, but you can find verifiable quotable sources there. We have all used search engines extensively for that purpose.

"Definitive sources" are difficult to find these days. Not even your handy dictionary is that "definitive" anymore.
 
I feel the word regardless should be reserved for use when you are trying to say that there may be some rammification of the action. Without regard. As in the person will do it in spite of anything, heedlessly, and unmindful of the outcome.

Mike Barone
FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators
 
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