regarding

Regarding is a preposition that means conerning or about. It functions to introduce the topic of a sentence or clause. The form derives from the verb regard with the -ing suffix, and it has long been used in English to indicate the subject matter of discussion, often in formal or professional writing.

In usage, regarding is relatively formal and common in business letters, reports, academic writing, and legal or governmental documents. It is one of several ways to reference a topic, with alternatives including concerning, about, and with regard to. In everyday writing, simpler options such as “about” are often preferred for clarity, while “re” appears in subject lines or notes rather than within the body text.

Examples:

- Regarding your request for the quarterly report, we will provide a preliminary summary by Friday.

- With regard to the budget, please review the latest projections before the meeting.

- Regarding the policy change, all departments must submit feedback by the deadline.

The phrase is typically placed at the beginning of a clause or immediately after a comma, and it is interchangeable with related constructions like “concerning” or “in regard to” in many contexts. However, overuse can make writing seem bureaucratic, so writers may opt for more direct terms in informal or reader-focused prose. See also: Re, Concerning, With regard to.