irrespective

USAGE SUMMARY

"irrespective" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to indicate that something is true or valid regardless of any other factors, or conditions. For example: "Irrespective of the weather, we will go hiking as planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Romanov, irrespective of the joys at Hampden, is expected to continue with his plan to sell the club.

The Guardian - Sport

"Underneath the thick layers of greenwash many of these schemes are unsustainable, unviable and unpopular, but Gordon Brown wants to impose them from Whitehall irrespective of local opinion".

The Guardian

"Parental support plays a key role in shaping the housing options of young people in the UK, irrespective of social class," says Peter Mackie, an academic at the University of Cardiff who is carrying out a major piece of research on housing for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The Guardian - Business

Relevant issues remain relevant irrespective of occasion and circumstance, and concerns that the US is using the situation as an excuse to increase neo-imperial dominance within the African continent are no small matter.

The Guardian

This is a dangerous precedent – irrespective of the kindness of student union officers, they're not trained counsellors and shouldn't be expected to act as a replacement.

The Guardian

It will not do … If the government is serious about this, take it away, abolish the civil partnerships bill, abolish civil marriage and create a civil union bill that applies to all people irrespective of their sexuality or their relationship.

The Guardian

David O'Connor, executive director for performance and governance at the council, says: "It's about understanding what's needed … a focus on outcomes and quality of service, irrespective of supplier".

The Guardian

If they live in a community, irrespective of who's managing their property, they should respect it".

The Guardian - Money

My mum was like: 'You don't have a boyfriend, you're not so young.' She was concerned for her ageing son like any Indian mum would be, irrespective of whether he is homosexual or heterosexual," Iyer, 36, said.

The Guardian

Indeed, there look to be a lot of readers who buy their papers irrespective of Cam, Ed, Nick and the whole damn show.

The Guardian

Chief among these changes is the SNP's decision to vote on practically all Commons matters, irrespective of whether they are devolved to Holyrood.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal or academic writing, "irrespective" serves as a strong alternative to more casual options like 'despite' or 'regardless'.

Common error

Avoid using "irregardless". It's considered non-standard and redundant, as the prefix 'ir-' and suffix '-less' both indicate negation. Stick to "irrespective" for correct usage.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "irrespective" is to act as an adjective. It modifies a noun or pronoun by indicating that something is not affected by or does not take into account something else. As Ludwig AI indicates, the term "irrespective" is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

23%

Less common in

Academic Sources

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "irrespective" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term functioning as an adjective. Its primary function is to emphasize that a condition or circumstance is not relevant or influential, as indicated by Ludwig. Predominantly found in news, formal, and business contexts, it holds a neutral to formal register. While similar to "regardless", "irrespective" leans towards more formal applications. It is a suitable alternative for terms such as "despite" and "notwithstanding" in many contexts, despite alternatives existing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regardless of

Indicates a lack of consideration for something; nearly interchangeable with "irrespective".

despite

A shorter and more common alternative.

in spite of

Similar to 'despite', but slightly more emphatic.

notwithstanding

Despite something; a more formal alternative to "irrespective".

without regard to

Highlights the act of not paying attention to something; slightly more descriptive.

no matter

Indicates that something will happen in any case, very colloquial.

irregardless of

Non-standard but sometimes used synonym; considered incorrect by many.

independent of

Emphasizes the separate nature of something, not influenced by another.

discounting

Suggests ignoring or disregarding something, often a potential obstacle.

unaffected by

Focuses on the lack of impact or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "irrespective" in a sentence?

You can use "irrespective" to show that something is true or valid regardless of other factors. For example, "The law applies to everyone, "irrespective of their social status"".

What is a good alternative to "irrespective"?

A common alternative to "irrespective" is "regardless of". Other options include "notwithstanding" and "despite", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "irrespective" and "regardless"?

The words "irrespective" and "regardless" are often used interchangeably. However, "irrespective" tends to be used in more formal contexts.

Is "irregardless" a correct word to use instead of "irrespective"?

While some people use "irregardless", it is widely considered non-standard and redundant. It's best to stick with "irrespective" or "regardless" for proper usage.