Regards, was Love

[Guest guest]

Hi Harsha,

>You know English is not my native tongue (Punjabi is), although I am the

>most fluent in English now. But even now, I am not always clear about the

>meaning of certain words. If some one can perhaps explain, what does

>"Regards" mean, I would appreciate it. There are many people who when they

>write to me end with "Regards". I have tried doing it myself with

>professional colleagues. I will end a sentence with "Regards" and then feel

>that somehow it does not convey what I want and then I will change it to

>"Warm Regards". What does that term mean? Does that fall way short of "Love"

>or is it pretty close.

 

It tends towards a feeling of affection - not a strong term in that way.

> I hope its not like making a pass at someone for God

>sake!

 

Certainly not!

 

"Regards" used to be used much more than now. It's formal language, for

business or formal letters, though probably a hundred years ago it wouldn't

have been regarded as "formal." If you care to look into an _older_ book

on business letters, you would probably find examples of it.

 

Fortunately, I have an _older_ (1953) copy of _Webster's New Collegiate

Dictionary_. I'm including the verb forms, for the background and flavor

of the word. You'll find what you want under "n." for "noun," especially

#6.

>_regard_, v.t. [F. _regarder_, fr. _re-_ + _garder_ to guard, heed, keep.]

>1. To keep in view; look at, esp. closely or attentively. 2. To hold

>(one) in high esteem. 3. To show respect or consideration for; heed. 4.

>To take into consideration; take account of. 5. To look upon so as to

>accept, treat, etc., as to _regard_ one as a friend or with dislike. 6.

>To have relation or respect to; concern; as, I agree with you as _regards_

>this. 7. _Obs_. To look after; care for. - v.i. To look attentively;

>gaze; also, heed.

>

>Syn. _Regard_, _respect_, _esteem_, _admire_ mean to recognize a person's

>or thing's worth. _Regard_, the least explicit of these words, usually

>requires qualification to complete its meaning; _respect_ implies a

>judgment of high valuation; _esteem_ adds to respect the implication of

>warmth of feeling or close attachment; _admire_ connotes enthusiastic

>appreciation and, sometimes, genuine affection.

>

>- n. 1. _Archaic_. Aspect; look; air. 2. A look; glance; gaze. 3.

>Attention; consideration; heed; care; concern. 4. A consideration or

>motive. 5. A respect, relation, or particular; as, in _regard_ to your

>purchase. 6. Respect; esteem; affection; - often in pl., in expressions

>of esteem, etc., as, my best _regards_ to your brother. - _in regard to,

>with regard to_. With respect or relation to.

 

You'll notice it says, "_Regard_, the least explicit of these words,

usually requires qualification to complete its meaning...." If I say, "I

regard you," it means I look at you, observe you. For the other meaning,

you have to add something, like, "I regard you as a loving man." Or, "I

regard him as a scoundrel." )) But "regards" is more general, and you

don't have to add anything... the connotation is positive, not negative.

 

It used to be quite common in writing letters. At a guess, I'd say there

was probably once a time when you'd say, "I send you my regards." And it

got shortened. People might still say that and sometimes do say

something like, "Give my regards to your lovely wife."

>I have used "Warm Regards" for the first time in the last week but I don't

>know what it conveys. I assume it conveys warm feelings. But how warm? I am

>serious because I don't know. When I write "Lots of Love" or "Love to All" I

>know what I am saying and what it means but with "Warm Regards" there is a

>certain ambiguity. Actually I have no idea. There are many words in English

>that I don't really understand in terms of nuance and just sort of go along

>with what others are doing or saying and the context they are using it in.

>So far it has worked well.

 

"Warm regards" sounds fine - warmer than "regards" alone, but still fairly

formal. You sound like a warm and friendly person writing a

formal/business letter. [Multiple caps not needed, just capitalize the

first word.]

 

"Lots of Love" or "Love to All" is not formal or business language unless

you're pretty close and friendly with the person or group. But fine in

casual or personal letters or on lists.

 

"Love" is more personal - or people tend to take it that way. I used to

stop every time and consider whether the person I was writing to would be

worried/upset/ think the wrong thing, etc. And finally I decided that was

a waste of my time, and I would just use it when I feel like it - and how

people take it is their concern.

>Anyway, sorry to raise such a trivial issue but I don't feel comfortable

>using a word I don't understand.

 

Any time! I enjoy talking about words.

>Thanks

>Love to all plus Warm Regards (OK, is there such a term as Hot Regards?).

 

If you're joking, sure. To me it's funny, because it's an anachronism.

"Regards" is more of an old-fashioned, formal word, and "hot" is modern

slang. "Regards" is a rather cool word, and putting it with "hot" is

funny. )

 

Also, you run the risk of someone thinking you mean something really

personal and sexual. "Hot" means - or used to mean - "ardent, passionate";

it had rather a sexual connotation, I think. I think the newer usages may

be losing or have lost that.

 

Makes me think of a recent comment on the list about the word "crap." The

word used to mean "feces," and it was a "dirty" word. When I was a kid, it

was one of those words you _never_ said out loud. When my kids were

growing up, the word was used much more casually, didn't carry the same

connotations any more. But I still had to explain to my kids that it was

the kind of word you _didn't_ use in front of Grandma. ) Now I'll bet

many people don't even know what it used to mean. )

 

BTW, I hope you realized that Jill was joking when she said, "But to cover

all your bases, I suggest you close all you future business correspondence

with, 'Lots of Love and Hot Regards, Sincerely, Dr. Luthar...'" NONE of

that is business language. ))))

 

Love,

Dharma