# People who say irrigardless **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 15, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987 "2011-11-15T06:18:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/61 "2011-11-16T00:15:25Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I want to kill people who use “that” instead of “who”. ooohhh. ouch. Guess you got me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![applebetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@applebetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/applebetty)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/62 "2011-11-16T00:19:21Z")
Is that the affect you intended? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/63 "2011-11-16T00:24:05Z")
Your all on the wrong tract. [sub]Two for the price of one.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/64 "2011-11-16T00:31:20Z")
I’m disinterested in this topic. I don’t mean to infer that I have anything against you personally, per say\*, but I am still reticent to get involved. \*yes, I know, the spelling ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/65 "2011-11-16T00:37:36Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > People saying ‘borrow’ when the mean ‘lend’ makes my skin crawl. Those people need someone to learn them how to talk right. ---
**Author:** ![HazelBelleBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9de0a6/32.png) [@HazelBelleBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelBelleBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/66 "2011-11-16T01:01:30Z")
I agree that there are larger problems with the world that I could be spending my time and energy on. However, in a call center, when you hear multiple people consistantly using horrible grammar, the small things add up quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/67 "2011-11-16T02:54:25Z")
> [@threeorange](#): > > Those people need someone to learn them how to talk right. Maybe they should go to the libary. mmm ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/68 "2011-11-16T03:27:23Z")
> [@HazelBelleBlue](#): > > I agree that there are larger problems with the world that I could be spending my time and energy on. However, in a call center, when you hear multiple people consistantly using horrible grammar, the small things add up quickly. _cough_ “Consistently.” _cough_ Whether you like it or not, _irregardless_ is a word. I personally am not a big fan of that particular word, but it’s alive and well and there’s nothing we really can do about it. I think it can legitimately be defended as a portmanteau of “irrespective” and “regardless,” if I’m being charitable, but language really doesn’t need any defense. It is what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/69 "2011-11-16T04:25:41Z")
Yeah, technically it’s a word but it’s not like there is a _ginormous_ percentage of the populace saying irregardless. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/70 "2011-11-16T04:40:15Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Yeah, technically it’s a word but it’s not like there is a _ginormous_ percentage of the populace saying irregardless. I hear it often enough that it simultaneously irritates me, while also conditioning me to eventually accept it. Now, “penultimate” to mean “ultimate to the extreme” or something like that–that one pisses me off, since it’s a perfectly good and useful word already, not some sort of neologism. I probably use “penultimate” and even “antepenultimate” way more than I should in conversation in order to keep the word on people’s radars and remind them (in context) that it means “next to last” (or “next to next to last” in the case of _antepenultimate_). I’m surprised I haven’t been punched in the face yet. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/71 "2011-11-16T06:14:58Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Wife: Can you pick the baby up tomorrow after work? > Me: I might can. Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. Me: Come with… what? Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. Me: Yeah, I’m just loitering here, waiting for the end of that sentence… Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. Y’know, to get the baby. Me: Oh, come with _ME …_ (smacks forehead) Wife: Hey, Mom, _you_ wanna come with? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/72 "2011-11-16T07:40:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I hear it often enough that it simultaneously irritates me, while also conditioning me to eventually accept it. > > Now, “penultimate” to mean “ultimate to the extreme” or something like that–that one pisses me off, since it’s a perfectly good and useful word already, not some sort of neologism. I probably use “penultimate” and even “antepenultimate” way more than I should in conversation in order to keep the word on people’s radars and remind them (in context) that it means “next to last” (or “next to next to last” in the case of _antepenultimate_). I’m surprised I haven’t been punched in the face yet. What about ginormous? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/73 "2011-11-16T08:56:56Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Maybe they should go to the libary. That’s pretty much the nucular option. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/74 "2011-11-16T09:45:21Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. > Me: Come with… what? > Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. > Me: Yeah, I’m just loitering here, waiting for the end of that sentence… > Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. Y’know, to get the baby. > Me: Oh, come with _ME …_ (smacks forehead) > Wife: Hey, Mom, _you_ wanna come with? It seems like lots of folks are saying this anymore. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/75 "2011-11-16T14:17:30Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What about ginormous? I consider it a perfectly good portmanteau word. It sounds slightly juvenile, but I like it fine. As for “come with,” that’s pretty much standard local dialect here. I simply do not notice it at all as an odd construction. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/76 "2011-11-16T14:28:20Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > It was the worse thing I’ve read Threads like this bug me because I never know if this kind of stuff is true form or just part of the running gag. And for the record, I am one of those people who makes a mental check mark next to you’re name when you utter the evil “irregardless.” It doesn’t close doors of opportunity to you, but it canmake them squeak a little. However, “nucular” drives me right up the wall and makes me want to break things. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/77 "2011-11-16T14:30:22Z")
I forgot the third part of the “might can”/“might could” trinity - “used to could”. Friend: “Can you run a half marathon” Me: “I used to could” (generally pronounced “yustacould”) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/78 "2011-11-16T14:31:43Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. > Me: Come with… what? > Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. > Me: Yeah, I’m just loitering here, waiting for the end of that sentence… > Wife: Maybe I’ll come with. Y’know, to get the baby. > Me: Oh, come with _ME …_ (smacks forehead) > Wife: Hey, Mom, _you_ wanna come with? This reminds me of a Halloween card saw at the store: Woman 1: Where’s the Halloween party at? Woman 2: Don’t end a sentence with a preposition. Woman 1: Where’s the Halloween party at, BITCH? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/79 "2011-11-16T14:33:32Z")
I see a difference between misusing “penultimate” and using “irregardless”. Irregardless has a clear meaning now, and has no other possible meaning. Certainly nobody takes it to mean “with regard” after processing the double-negative. Penultimate, however, has a perfectly good meaning and using it incorrectly can cause significant misunderstanding. And “I’ll come with” (which is not particularly popular here in St. Louis, AFAIK) seems perfectly grammatical to me - implied objects aren’t forbidden in English and there is no chance of misunderstanding there. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987/80 "2011-11-16T14:59:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > As for “come with,” that’s pretty much standard local dialect here. I simply do not notice it at all as an odd construction. I’ve never heard that. I will count my blessing (though they will still be in the negative numbers). I’ve usually no problem with mashing up words like gigantic and enormous to get ginormous. Only the most anal retentive will get their bunch in a panties over shit like that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-irrigardless/602987.md?page=5)