Cool MateIn any case vs Regardless
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
In any case
Top 2,000 (common)
Regardless
Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb
| In any case | Regardless | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪn ˈɛnɪ keɪs//🇺🇸 //ɪn ˈɛni keɪs// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡɑːdləs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡɑːrdləs/"]/ |
| Meaning | No matter what happens | No matter what; not paying attention to something. |
| Example | We might not have enough time, but in any case, we should try to finish. | The weather was terrible but we **carried on regardless**. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | in any case, in any event, in any situation, used in any circumstance | regardless of the consequences, regardless of the situation, regardless of age |
| Antonyms | - | considering, mindful, concerned |
| Common mistakes | Used too formally in casual conversations., Confused with 'in any event' which has a slightly different nuance. | 'Irregardless' is incorrect; the correct form is 'regardless'., Forgetting to use it with 'of' (e.g., say 'regardless of the circumstances')., Using it in overly formal contexts where simpler language would suffice. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used to signal a conclusion or transition in conversation. Suitable for both spoken and written English; not overly formal. | Use 'regardless' to indicate that an action or decision is not influenced by other factors. It's often used in both spoken and written English. However, be careful not to confuse it with 'irregardless', which is nonstandard. |
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Frequently asked questions: In any case vs Regardless
What's the difference between In any case and Regardless?
In any case: No matter what happens Regardless: No matter what; not paying attention to something.
Can you show an example of each?
In any case: We might not have enough time, but in any case, we should try to finish. Regardless: The weather was terrible but we **carried on regardless**.
Can I use In any case and Regardless interchangeably?
Not always. In any case and Regardless are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.