Dear 1L, Expel “regard” from your legal writing.

And while you’re at it, cut “regard” from your vocabulary altogether:

👎 “Regarding”
👎👎 “In regard to”
👎👎👎 “As regards”

All of these sound like nails on a chalkboard in legal writing.
They bloat your sentences and make them sound clunky and awkward

Instead, swap in shorter prepositions like “On” or “As to”:

❌ “Regarding the first claim, plaintiff cites no support.”
✅ “As to the first claim, plaintiff cites no support.”

❌ “In regard to the Rule 12(b)(6) motion, we are still awaiting the court’s decision.”
✅ “On the Rule 12(b)(6) motion, we are still awaiting the court’s decision.”

RECAP

“regard” —> long, clunky, awkward
“as to” / “on” —> short, pithy, clean

Bonus: These edits save space, too!

💌 Amanda

#Dear1L
#DearLegalWriter

P.S. There is nothing grammatically wrong with “Regarding,” “In regard to,” or “As regards”—they just make your prose heavier than it needs to be, and many find them grating to the ear.

What think you?

Will you try “On” or “As to”?

P.P.S. And definitely never end a business letter, “Regards.”