regret about

USAGE SUMMARY

"regret about" is not an idiomatic phrase in English and is not used in written English.
To express regret, "regret" is used on its own or combined with words like "having," "feeling," or "expressing," depending on the context. For example: I regret having missed the chance to see you.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

(Craig later expressed regret about Sullivan's resignation).

The New York Times

"People still have huge regret about 2011.

The Guardian - Film

The White House expressed regret about the withdrawal.

The New York Times

I don't have any regret about it at all".

The New York Times

He added: "Is there a regret about that?

The New York Times - Sports

He expressed no regret about the earlier KFC program.

The New York Times

He expressed some regret about Times Square's new spiffiness.

The New York Times

Except now he's racked with regret about the whole thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No network voiced regret about passing up coverage Tuesday night.

The New York Times

The Foreign Ministry expressed regret about the delay and misunderstanding.

The New York Times

I have no regret about having studied it.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To express someone else's regret, use phrases like "expressed regret" or "felt regret" instead of pairing "regret" with "about."

Common error

Avoid using "regret about" in formal writing. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound awkward or grammatically incorrect. Prefer using more structured and recognized sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "regret about" functions as a verb followed by a preposition, typically introducing the object or situation causing the regret. Ludwig suggests using "regret" on its own or in constructions like "regret having" or "expressing regret" for better grammatical accuracy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "regret about" is frequently found in diverse contexts, especially within News & Media. However, Ludwig AI points out that it isn't considered grammatically sound in formal settings. While extremely common, it's often more appropriate to use constructions like "regret having," or to say that someone "expressed regret." The analysis highlights the importance of context and grammatical precision, suggesting that while the phrase is widely understood, it's better to favor more grammatically correct alternatives, particularly in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regret concerning

Replaces 'about' with 'concerning', offering a slightly more formal tone.

feel regret for

Substitutes 'regret' as a verb and uses 'for' instead of 'about'.

have regrets regarding

Replaces 'about' with 'regarding', and uses the plural form of 'regret'.

express remorse over

Uses 'remorse' instead of 'regret' and 'over' instead of 'about', changing the intensity.

lament over

Replaces 'regret' with 'lament' and 'about' with 'over', offering a more mournful tone.

be sorry for

A more common and direct way of expressing regret.

rue the day

An idiomatic expression indicating strong regret.

feel contrite about

Replaces 'regret' with 'contrite', emphasizing a sense of guilt.

have misgivings about

Indicates a sense of doubt or worry about something.

be apologetic for

Emphasizes the act of apologizing, rather than just feeling regret.

FAQs

How can I express regret correctly in a sentence?

You can use alternatives like "I regret doing something", "I regret that I did something", or "I feel "remorse about" something" depending on the context.

What's a more formal way to express regret?

Instead of "regret about", consider using phrases like "express "remorse over"", "lament", or rephrasing the sentence to use "regret" with a gerund or 'that' clause.

Is it always wrong to say "regret about"?

While not strictly grammatically correct, "regret about" is used in informal contexts and media. However, it's best to avoid it in formal writing to maintain credibility.

What are some alternatives to saying "I have no regret about it at all"?

You could say "I don't "deplore about" it at all", "I don't have any regrets", or "I'm completely unapologetic about it".