Regarding: Meaning and How to Use It in a Sentence
Regarding means “about” or “on the subject of”. It is a slightly formal preposition used mainly in emails, letters, reports and announcements: I’m writing regarding your order. Do you have any questions regarding the contract? In everyday conversation, most people simply say about.
Below: how to use regarding at the start and in the middle of a sentence, example sentences by situation, regarding vs with regard to, in regard to and as regards, the common mistakes (including “in regards to”), and the other meaning of regarding, as a form of the verb regard.
What regarding means
| Sentence with regarding | Same meaning, plainer |
|---|---|
| I have a question regarding my bill. | I have a question about my bill. |
| Regarding your last email, the meeting is now on Friday. | About your last email: the meeting is now on Friday. |
| The rules regarding pets have changed. | The rules on pets have changed. |
| There is no news regarding the flight. | There is no news about the flight. |
Synonyms in this sense: about, concerning, on, re (very short, in email subjects), with regard to, in regard to, as regards, in relation to, with respect to, on the subject of.
Two places it goes in a sentence
1. At the start, to name the topic
Put regarding + noun phrase first, then a comma, then the main clause. This is common at the start of an email or a new paragraph, when you switch to a new topic:
- Regarding the delivery date, we can offer the 14th or the 21st.
- Regarding your application, we would like to invite you to an interview.
- Regarding next week, I’ll be working from home on Monday.
Make the main clause say something new. “Regarding the shipment, it will arrive next week” repeats the topic with it; “The shipment will arrive next week” is simpler and better.
2. After a noun or verb, to say what something is about
No comma is needed here:
- We received several complaints regarding the noise.
- Please contact HR with any questions regarding your pay.
- The minister refused to comment regarding the investigation.
- New guidance regarding remote work comes into force in January.
Regarding must be followed by its topic. It cannot end a sentence: “This is the email I wrote regarding” is wrong; say “This is the email I wrote about.”
Example sentences by situation
Emails and letters
- I’m writing regarding the invoice dated 3 March.
- Thank you for your message regarding the delayed parcel.
- I’d like to follow up regarding our call on Tuesday.
- Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the attached report.
- Regarding your refund, it has been approved and will reach your account within five working days.
- I have not heard back regarding my application and wanted to check its status.
At work
- The team needs a decision regarding the launch date by Friday.
- There is some confusion regarding who approves overtime.
- Regarding the budget, we are about 5% under for the quarter.
- She raised concerns regarding the safety of the old scaffolding.
- Our policy regarding personal phone use is in the staff handbook.
News, rules and official notices
- Police have issued an appeal regarding the missing hiker.
- The school has updated its guidance regarding mobile phones.
- No decision has been made regarding the airport expansion.
- Information regarding parking can be found at the reception desk.
Academic writing
- Little research exists regarding the long-term effects of the treatment.
- Regarding the sample, all participants were aged between 18 and 25.
- The data raise questions regarding the reliability of self-reported sleep.
School and university
- Parents received a letter regarding the new uniform rules.
- Please see your tutor regarding any change to your timetable.
- Regarding the exam, calculators are allowed in Paper 2 only.
- The student emailed the department regarding an extension.
Customer service and travel
- I am contacting you regarding a charge I don’t recognise.
- For enquiries regarding lost luggage, please go to Desk 4.
- We apologise for the confusion regarding your booking.
- Regarding your seat request, we have moved you to an aisle seat.
- Updates regarding the train strike will be posted on our website.
In questions
- Is there any update regarding my visa?
- What is the company’s position regarding remote work?
- Have you heard anything regarding the new manager?
- Could you clarify your comment regarding the deadline?
A short sample email
Subject: Re: Office move
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your message regarding the office move. Regarding the date, we are still waiting for the landlord to confirm, but it should be the first week of March. I’ll send details regarding parking and access cards next week.
Kind regards,
Priya
Notice the three uses: after a noun (message regarding), at the start of a sentence with a comma (Regarding the date,), and after a noun again (details regarding). Three in one short email is the limit; a fourth would start to sound repetitive.
Everyday speech (where about is more natural)
- Formal: I called regarding the flat you advertised. Everyday: I’m calling about the flat.
- Formal: Did he say anything regarding the party? Everyday: Did he say anything about the party?
Regarding, with regard to, in regard to, as regards
| Phrase | Correct? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| regarding | yes | formal, very common in emails |
| with regard to | yes | formal, common in reports; no “s” |
| in regard to | yes | formal; same meaning; no “s” |
| as regards | yes | formal, more British; here regards is a verb, so the “s” is right |
| in regards to / with regards to | avoid | common in speech, but treated as an error in careful writing |
| concerning | yes | formal, very close to regarding |
| re / Re: | yes | short for “regarding”; email subject lines and notes: Re: Friday’s meeting |
| about | yes | neutral; the everyday choice |
And don’t confuse any of these with regards at the end of an email (Kind regards, Best regards), which means good wishes, not “about”.
Regarding, concerning or about: is there any difference?
In most sentences the three mean the same, and the choice is about tone:
- About is neutral and fits every situation: a film about the war, talk about it, worried about money.
- Regarding and concerning are formal and mostly used to name the subject of a message, a rule or a question: a letter concerning your pension, questions regarding the contract.
Some uses of about cannot be replaced. After feelings and many verbs, keep about: I’m worried about him (not “worried regarding him”), She told me about her trip, What’s the book about? And about meaning “approximately” (about ten people) has nothing to do with regarding.
Concerning has a second meaning as an adjective: “worrying”. The results are concerning means the results are worrying, not “the results are about something”. Regarding has no such adjective use.
“With regard to” vs “regard for”
The noun regard also means respect or care. She has no regard for the rules means she does not respect them; He acted without regard for his own safety means he did not care about it. This is different from with regard to (about). Compare:
- With regard to safety, the site meets all standards. (about safety)
- The driver showed no regard for safety. (no respect or care for safety)
The other meaning: regarding as part of the verb “regard”
Regard is also a verb meaning “to look at” or “to think of in a certain way”. Its -ing form is also regarding:
- She stood in the doorway, regarding him with suspicion. (looking at him)
- He is widely regarded as the best player of his generation. (thought of as)
- Regarding the plan as too risky, the board voted against it. (considering it to be)
In these sentences regarding is a verb form, not the preposition “about”. The context makes it clear: the preposition is followed by a topic; the verb is usually followed by a person or thing plus with or as.
Is regarding too formal?
In a work email, regarding is normal and polite. In a text to a friend it sounds stiff: “Regarding tonight, shall we meet at eight?” reads like a business memo. Use about there, or start with the topic itself: “Tonight: shall we meet at eight?”
In a subject line, “Regarding: invoice 4471” is fine, but the shorter “Re: invoice 4471” is more usual, and many people simply write the topic: “Invoice 4471 – wrong amount”. A clear subject line helps the reader more than the word regarding does.
Too many uses close together also sound heavy. If every sentence in a message starts with “Regarding…”, rewrite some with the topic as the subject: not “Regarding the report, it is ready”, but “The report is ready.”
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Regarding of the issue… | Regarding the issue… | no preposition after regarding |
| Regarding to the new policy… | Regarding the new policy… / With regard to the new policy… | “to” belongs only in with regard to |
| We talked regarding about the project. | We talked about the project. | one preposition is enough; with “talk”, about is natural |
| In regards to your email… | Regarding your email… / In regard to your email… | no “s” in the phrase |
| We need more information, regarding the costs. | We need more information regarding the costs. | no comma inside the phrase |
| The meeting, regarding the budget, is next week. | The meeting regarding the budget is next week. | the phrase identifies which meeting, so no commas |
| He inquired me regarding the details. | He asked me about the details. / He inquired about the details. | inquire does not take a person as object |
| Regarding the report, it is ready. | The report is ready. | don’t repeat the topic as “it” |
Practice
A. Correct the sentences.
- Regarding to your question, the answer is yes.
- I’m writing in regards to the job advert.
- Do you have any news regarding of the strike?
- Regarding the timetable, it has changed.
- She asked me regarding my opinion.
B. Rewrite with regarding.
- I have a question about the deposit.
- About your request for leave: it has been approved.
- Let’s talk about the schedule. (Is regarding a good choice here?)
Answers
- Regarding your question, the answer is yes.
- I’m writing regarding the job advert. / I’m writing in regard to the job advert.
- Do you have any news regarding the strike?
- The timetable has changed.
- She asked me for my opinion. / She asked me what I thought. (regarding is not needed)
- I have a question regarding the deposit.
- Regarding your request for leave, it has been approved. Better: Your request for leave has been approved.
- No. “Let’s talk regarding the schedule” is unnatural; keep “Let’s talk about the schedule.” You could write “Regarding the schedule, let’s discuss it on Monday” in a formal email.
Quick answers
What does regarding mean?
About, or on the subject of: “a question regarding your account”. It can also be a form of the verb regard (to look at or consider).
Can you start a sentence with regarding?
Yes. Follow it with the topic and a comma: “Regarding the invoice, the amount is correct.”
Is it “regarding” or “in regards to”?
Use regarding, in regard to or with regard to. “In regards to” is common in speech but marked as wrong in formal writing.
Is regarding a preposition?
Yes, in “regarding your order”. It developed from the -ing form of the verb regard, like concerning and considering.
More prepositions with example sentences: upon, during, against and except.
