Should “Irregardless” be in the dictionary?

Miriam Webster recently confirmed that “irregardless” has an entry in the dictionary, with the caveat that a definition doesn’t equate to an endorsement of a word’s use. Grammarians upset by the entry assert that “irregardless” is a double negative and doesn’t belong in the dictionary. Others counterclaim that language is ever-changing and the function of dictionaries is to record those changes.

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Teachers

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Investigate

Use this graphic organizer to keep track of new information.

Contemplate

Use this worksheet to answer the Contemplate questions.

Regardless Of What You Think, 'Irregardless' Is A Word

contemplate

Who created this message?

  • What kind of “text” is it?
  • How similar or different is it to others of the same genre?
  • What are the various elements (building blocks) that make up the whole?

 

What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?

  • What do you notice (about the way the message is constructed)? 
  • What’s the emotional appeal?
  • What makes it seem “real?”
  • What's the emotional appeal? Persuasive devices used?

How might different people understand this message differently from me?

  • How many other interpretations could there be?
  • How could we hear about them?
  • How can you explain the different responses?

What lifestyles, values, and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?

  • What type of person is the reader/watcher/listener invited to identify with?
  • What ideas or perspectives are left out?
  • How would you find what’s missing?
  • What judgments or statements are made about how we treat other people?

 

Why is this message being sent?

  • What's being sold in this message? What's being told? 
  • Who is served by or  benefits from the message
    – the public?
    – private interests?
    – individuals?
    – institutions?

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