RE:garding Regardless, Once-and-for-all...

(non)Sense, Sensibilities: "It's about time!" Another way to refer to "Once and for all' -- "For the last time, finally..." What I sometimes refer to in a therapeutic setting as a 'summary statement', one which reflects a lot of acquired information and experience, in anticipation of strategizing, applying what one has learned, their "insights". Here and now, I've come to offer some psychological insights and strategies for those who continue to be irked, divided by the debate about whether, when it comes to finding a word to describe "without paying attention to the present situation...despite prevailing circumstances..." one should use the shorter version regardless and disregard the word that probably, in the world of etymology, was as a latecomer, irregardless. Those more strongly adhering to the former and rejecting the latter, are now sometimes in etymological circles, referred to as 'disirregardlessers'...more or less...

Time, Place, Person: Not only the way for mental health practitioners to evaluate your general 'Orientation' (add "situation" and you get "X4" or the 'bonus round'!), but also a way I appeal to adult individuals and parents on behalf of their children, as to when various expressions may be called for, either under- or over- (as in over-sensitive), such as when parents are concerned their child "wants to be the class clown😂😠!" When I remind them that professional comedians learn how to appreciate their audience as well as timing, and even "situation" (e.g., "what city am I am, what will they think is funny versus off-putting?"), and you get a formula for appreciating, directing the child's personality traits, versus simply suppressing (your) own. Simply put, based on 'best practices' of etymologists, the word regardless is generally called for in more formal conversations and contexts, whereas irregardless is deemed acceptable in more casual, "informal settings". But, if regardless can be used irrespective of whether it is either formal or informal, why or why, you ask, did "they" introduce yet another word; did "they" foresee it as yet another divisive machination, notwithstanding our inclinations to find stuff, trivia to argue about...?! Or perhaps you can find neutral territory, a place like Switzerland, whose unofficial, casual motto is "one for all and all for one", an example of a chiasmus -- "...a curious rhetorical device in which words, grammatical constructs, or concepts are repeated in reverse order..." Which is in turn different from an antimetabole -- "in which repetition of words or consecutive clauses are in transposed order, for effect (e.g., "they mean what they say, and say what they mean..."). I could go on about the similarities and differences, compare and contrast, but that's for another time, day, and audience who might appreciate it...

(De)Personalized: Hope you have found this attempt to clarify this exasperating, ongoing etymological condition personally acceptable, depending on your current usage. If not, simply 'dis'regard this...

Kind Regards,