{"id":11644,"date":"2021-03-19T22:03:15","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T22:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/?p=11644"},"modified":"2023-04-11T00:03:13","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T00:03:13","slug":"give-my-regards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linguaholic.com\/linguablog\/give-my-regards\/","title":{"rendered":"“Give my regards”: Meaning, Context, Variations & Synonyms"},"content":{"rendered":"

How do we show our affection to another person through language?<\/span><\/p>\n

And, are words powerful enough to make third-party individuals feel good about us and themselves through a “forwarded message?”<\/span><\/p>\n

But of course! We do this all the time without even noticing it, such as when we “give our regards” to a person through a mutual connection. <\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, we’ve covered the nuances behind this expression in this post. So now, kindly scroll down for ample details.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What does “give my regards” mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“Give my regards” simply means “send my greetings” to another person who is not part of the ongoing conversation. It is often used as a closing remark to convey politeness and affection through language. In less formal contexts, we can reduce the formality of this expression by using “tell someone I said hi.” On the other hand, we may increase its formality by saying “extend my greetings” instead.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Give my regards” in more detail<\/b><\/h2>\n

Humans are social beings which means that we have an innate need to interact with other people around us. Well, why not?<\/span><\/p>\n

These interactions are integral in keeping harmony and preventing violence from happening, similar to how we use <\/span>humor<\/b><\/a> in our daily lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

We interact using gestures, and of course, through language.<\/span><\/p>\n

A language is powerful enough to move mountains when used properly, but it can also be a subversive tool when used for misinformation, manipulation, and aggression purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example<\/b><\/a>, a phrase as common as “give my regards” has the power to make someone’s day so much better, especially when the message comes from a person dear to us.<\/span><\/p>\n

However<\/b><\/a>, “give my regards” may also be manipulatively used to lure a person into a relationship on the other side of the spectrum.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the next subsections though, you will understand how to effectively use the mentioned phrase to serve a positive purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The usage of “give my regards”<\/b><\/h3>\n

“Give my regards” is an affective expression that simply means “send my greetings and respect” to a third-party addressee.<\/span><\/p>\n

This expression generally has a positive connotation which is useful in starting or maintaining an intimate relationship with someone.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the spoken context, this expression’s meaning can be simplified into the act of greeting another person who is <\/span>not<\/b><\/a> part of the ongoing conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The addressee being referred to by the speaker is <\/span>often<\/b><\/a> a mutual connection for both interlocutors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or<\/b><\/a>, it could be someone who is at least intimately related to <\/span>either<\/b><\/a> one of the two interlocutors, such as a parent, a friend, a partner, a sibling, or a child.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a more formal context, “give my regards” is on par with the expression “best regards” or “warmest regards” <\/span>that<\/b><\/a> we often observe in business correspondence<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, it is used to express greetings and good wishes to another person. The intended addressee is dependent on how the phrase is structured, which will be explained later.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The function  of “give my regards”<\/b><\/h3>\n

As regards function, the use of “give my regards” is an expression used to endow politeness which is inherently used to maintain social balance.<\/span><\/p>\n

It means that it simply acts as a buffer to prevent aggression from happening as its main purpose is to convey goodwill to others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, it is opposite to insults which are also naturally used to manifest impoliteness through language.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we convey messages to show courtesy toward another person rather <\/span>than<\/b><\/a> ourselves, it <\/span>suggests<\/b><\/a> that we aim to build or maintain rapport or intimacy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rapport-building is a general requirement in having a harmonious society, which is the main reason why we use polite expressions<\/a><\/strong> like “give my regards” when necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The placement of “Give my regards” within the letter (e-mail)<\/b><\/h3>\n

In formal contexts like business correspondence, are more likely to see expressions like “best regards” or “warmest regards<\/a><\/strong>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

These phrases are often observed at the end of emails and letters, known as the complimentary close, which is directed toward the reader.<\/span><\/p>\n

The complimentary close not only signals the end of the message but also aims to express goodwill to the reader, <\/span>hence<\/b><\/a> a sign of politeness.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is also worth noting that not adding a complimentary closing remark is not necessarily an attempt to be impolite to the message receiver.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, adding one indicates that the writer is keen on observing the completeness of the message, and <\/span>thus<\/b><\/a>, likely to come across as professional.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Give my regards”, on the other hand, can be used as part of the main message of a letter or email to extend goodwill wishes to a person close to the reader.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Dear Esther,<\/p>\n

I miss you too. My new home here in Idaho isn’t that much, but it’s cozy enough for the three of us.<\/p>\n

By the way, how’s your life at grad school? You must be spending lots of sleepless nights and coffee money these days! Just keep going, okay? That, too, shall pass.<\/p>\n

Please give my regards to your mom and dad.<\/p>\n

Love,<\/p>\n

Debbie<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

In the spoken context, the use of “give my regards” also marks the same intent, whose underlying purpose boils down to showing benevolence by using language as a vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n

It also gives the impression that a person has not forgotten to show some <\/span>care<\/b><\/a> or affection toward another addressee <\/span>despite<\/b><\/a> not being part of the actual conversation taking place.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A:<\/strong> How’s your mom now? She just retired, right?<\/p>\n

B:<\/strong> Oh, she’s busy with her plants and her ten-ish dogs. She’s currently staying at our old house in Seattle.<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> She’s living the life. Anyways, give my regards to her, will you?<\/p>\n

B:<\/strong> I will. Thanks!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

Now<\/b><\/a>, let’s also take a closer look at some variations of “give my regards” to have more flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Variations of “give my regards”<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are different ways to structure “give my regards” both in writing and speaking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Give my regards to him\/her<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the most commonly-used structures can be achieved by adding a preposition and its object afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n

We normally use object pronouns in place of nouns when the context already implies the person being referred to.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s been a while since I’ve seen your younger sister. Give my regards to her when you get home, okay?<\/div><\/div>\n

In the <\/span>example<\/b><\/a> above, the premise already explains the person being referred by the speaker.<\/span><\/p>\n

So<\/b><\/a>, substituting “your sister” to “her” in the second sentence makes the statement non-redundant.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Give him\/her my regards<\/b><\/h3>\n

Another way to structure the same expression is by placing the object pronoun right after the verb “give.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The other object pronouns include <\/span>you, me, him, them, <\/span><\/i>and<\/b><\/a> us <\/span><\/i>which can <\/span>also<\/b><\/a> be used as the object of the verb in a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

I haven’t seen your sister for a while now. I hope she’s fine. Give her my regards when you get home, okay?<\/div><\/div>\n

The same meaning is implied in the statement above, but we can also make use of this alternate structure instead of the previous one, which is coming from the speaker.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Give you his\/her regards<\/b><\/h3>\n

Now, if we want to forward the message to the addressee, we can simply use the structure “give you his or her regards.”<\/span><\/p>\n

This time, “you” stands for the addressee’s name, whereas “his” or “her” indicates the sender of the message.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hey, Stacy! I bumped into Sarah at the grocery this morning. She wants me to give you her regards.<\/div><\/div>\n

One thing to note in the above example is that <\/span>although<\/b><\/a> the sentence is perfectly grammatical, it might come across as quite formal.<\/span><\/p>\n

To adjust the tone, we can simply just say “she said hi” or “she said hello.” If we want to increase intimacy, we can also say “she sends her love.” <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Synonyms of “give my regards”<\/b><\/h2>\n

Since the concept of formality and informality have just been mentioned, let’s also try to differentiate them using other synonymous expressions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of how to adjust the tonality of “give my regards.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tell him\/her I said “hi”<\/b><\/h3>\n

As briefly mentioned, we can simplify the  “give my regards” to “say hi” when the interaction is relatively casual.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is, again, possible in conveying messages to people with whom we share intimate relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you get to see your dad, tell him I said hi.<\/div><\/div>\n

And<\/b><\/a>, when the message is to be passed on to the intended addressee, we can say the next statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dad, John says hi to you. I met him downtown earlier.<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Send my love<\/b><\/h3>\n

Another similar expression is “send my love” in which the last word can be conveniently replaced with words like “hugs” or “kisses.”<\/span><\/p>\n

This is commonly observed when the speaker or writer intends to increase the amount of enthusiasm of the message.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you meet your grandma, please send my love to her.<\/div><\/div>\n

Changing the tonality this way implies a stronger intent to be affectionate to the indirect addressee, which also generally makes the direct addressee feel good in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Send my compliments<\/b><\/h3>\n

In more formal situations, such as when having a discourse with someone relatively distant, we can increase the formality by changing the last word.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Send my compliments” would be more appropriate when dealing with clients, superiors, or professors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Register formality is essential in demonstrating seriousness and decorum when communicating with psychologically distant individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n

This cassoulet is divine! Please send my compliments<\/a> to the chef.<\/div><\/div>\n

Conversely, this verbiage is not encouraged in casual conversations for register alignment reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

And, also <\/span>bear in mind<\/b><\/a> that “send my compliments” does not necessarily mean saying “hi” or “hello” only.<\/span><\/p>\n

It rather conveys respect and admiration to the intended addressee, which is why it has to be used accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Extend my greetings<\/b><\/h3>\n

And, we can also use “extend my greetings” to imply a closer and more formal meaning to “give my regards.”<\/span><\/p>\n

This one is closer to saying “hi” compared to the previous formal expression elaborated.<\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to extend our greetings to your entire family.<\/div><\/div>\n

Similarly, this verbiage is formal and, therefore, must be used accordingly, such as in a political speech or business-related discourse.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Send my regards<\/b><\/h3>\n

The last synonymous <\/span>phrase<\/b><\/a> to “give my regards” is “send my regards” which can be used in neutrally-formal contexts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to “tell her I said hi” and “send my love,” this expression denotes a relatively formal meaning.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, this is also slightly more casual than “send my compliments” and “extend my regards.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore we can say that this is the safest substitute to “give my regards,” <\/span>especially<\/b><\/a> when the intimacy of the relationship isn’t really <\/span>that<\/b><\/a> strong.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is because “send” is less formal than “extend,” while “regards” is also more formal than “hi” or “hello.”<\/span><\/p>\n

So, when you want to sound casual yet still maintain some formality in your tone, you may use “send my regards” <\/span>instead<\/b><\/a> of the other synonyms mentioned in this section.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s an example of a brief dialogue between a person who is closer to the indirect addressee than the direct one. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A<\/strong>: You’re Amber, right? I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Jimmy. Your twin brother and I went to grad school together, and I still remember you very well because you were also at the post-graduation dinner party. Do you guys live here?<\/p>\n

B:<\/strong> Of course, I remember you, Jimmy! I’m just visiting my brother. He moved here last month, right after he got married.<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I wish I had known that ahead of time. I’m just here for a quick business trip actually, and in fact, I’m heading to the airport now. Please send my regards to Aiden, will you?<\/p>\n

B:<\/strong> Yes, I’ll let him know we bumped into each other today. Too bad we can’t hang out anymore. Anyways, take care and have a safe flight!<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> Thanks. Goodbye, Amber! Take care too.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

As you may have noticed in the dialogue’s context, the relationship between the speaker and <\/span>direct addressee<\/b><\/a> is not that intimate.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, the speaker is rather related to the indirect addressee, <\/span>the brother<\/b><\/a>; hence, similar situations could also prompt the use of “send my regards.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Frequently Asked Questions on “Give My Regards”<\/b><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

How can we use “send my regards” in a sentence?<\/b><\/p>\n

We can use “send our regards” to express warmth or affection to an indirect addressee such as in “Please send my regards to your grandma.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How can we respond or reply to “give my regards to someone?”<\/b><\/p>\n

When the message is directed to a person dear or close to us such as friends and family members, the easiest form of response is “I will. Thank you,” or we can use a truncated version like “Will do.” We may also further reciprocate the message sender by asking about a person close to him or her.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When can we say “give my regards to your family?”<\/b><\/p>\n

This expression is often observed as a closing remark either in written or spoken discourse. It is used to convey affection toward the addressee, and hence, also considered as a form of politeness strategy.<\/span>
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