au regard de
In Light of with Au Regard De
Au regard de is a formal connector used to establish a point of reference. It translates to 'in light of,' 'considering,' or 'in relation to.' It is primarily found in legal, academic, and professional writing.
How It Works
The phrase au regard de is a staple of formal French (le style soutenu). While learners might be tempted to use simpler prepositions like pour or sur, au regard de adds a layer of analytical precision.
1. Usage and Meaning
It is used to introduce the criteria or context by which something is being judged or evaluated. For example, if you are evaluating a company's success, you might look at it au regard de ses objectifs (in light of its objectives).
2. Distinction from 'en regard de'
It is important to distinguish this from en regard de. While au regard de is evaluative (considering/in light of), en regard de is primarily spatial or comparative, meaning 'opposite' or 'facing' (e.g., une traduction placée en regard du texte original). Modern usage reserves au regard de for judgment and en regard de or par rapport à for direct comparison.
3. Morphology and Elision
- It is a fixed phrase: au (contraction of à + le) + regard + de.
- The final de undergoes elision (becoming d') before a vowel or a mute 'h'.
4. Register
This is not a phrase for casual conversation. You will encounter it in legal documents, journalism, and academic essays to build fluency in formal analysis.
Examples (4)
- L'acte est nul au regard de la loi.
The act is void in light of the law.
Word by Word: The act is null at the look of the law.
A classic legal usage where an action is judged against a legal standard.
- Au regard de ses résultats récents, l'entreprise doit changer de stratégie.
In view of its recent results, the company must change its strategy.
Word by Word: At the look of its results recent, the company must change of strategy.
Here, the recent results serve as the context for the necessary change.
- Le dossier a été rejeté au regard des critères établis par la commission.
The application was rejected in light of the criteria established by the commission.
Word by Word: The file has been rejected at the look of the criteria established by the commission.
This demonstrates the evaluative function, where a decision is made based on specific criteria.
- Il faut évaluer ce projet au regard d'une situation économique difficile.
This project must be evaluated in light of a difficult economic situation.
Word by Word: It must evaluate this project at the look of a situation economic difficult.
Note the elision (d') before the vowel in 'une'.
Common Mistakes
Confusing 'au regard de' with 'en regard de'.
Il a placé les deux colonnes au regard l'une de l'autre.Il a placé les deux colonnes en regard l'une de l'autre.While 'au regard de' is used for analytical judgment or evaluation, 'en regard de' is traditionally used for physical placement (facing/opposite) or direct side-by-side comparison.
Using 'au regard de' to mean 'towards' a person.
Il est très gentil au regard de sa mère.Il est très gentil envers sa mère.To describe an attitude toward a person, use 'envers' or 'à l'égard de'. 'Au regard de' is for analytical reference or judgment.
Using the wrong preposition (à instead of de).
Au regard à la situation...Au regard de la situation...The phrase is fixed with the preposition 'de'. Do not confuse it with 'à l'égard de'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'au regard de', a learner needs to be familiar with the contraction 'au' (à + le) and the use of the preposition 'de' to link phrases. Since this is a formal connector used in analytical writing, it also helps to understand the semantic root of 'regard' (look/view) to grasp its meaning as 'in light of' or 'with respect to'.
- au (à + le)Contraction a + Le = Au
The pattern 'au regard de' begins with the contraction 'au', which is the combination of the preposition 'à' and the masculine definite article 'le'.
Level 1 - de (provenance / appartenance)Origin, Possession with De
The pattern is a complex prepositional phrase ending in 'de', which is necessary to link the expression to a following noun or idea.
Level 1 - voirIrregular Verb Voir (To See)
The noun 'regard' is etymologically and semantically linked to the verb 'regarder' (to look/watch), which is a derivative of 'voir' (to see). Understanding the concept of 'sight' or 'view' is essential to the metaphorical meaning of 'in light of'.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- eu égard àIn View of with Eu Egard a
A very similar formal connector meaning 'in view of,' though 'eu égard à' is often used specifically to justify a decision.
Level 6 - à cet égardIn This Regard with a Cet Egard
A related adverbial phrase meaning 'in this regard' or 'in this respect,' used to refer back to a previously mentioned point.
Level 5 - dans la mesure oùInsofar as with Dans La Mesure Ou
Another formal analytical connector meaning 'insofar as,' used to set the limits or scope of a statement.
Level 5 - Dropping a vowel before another vowel
The 'de' in this phrase must undergo elision (d') when the following word begins with a vowel or mute 'h'.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice au regard de in Bubblegum
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