med avseende på
With Regard to
A formal phrase to specify what you are talking about, similar to 'regarding' or 'in terms of'.
How It Works
The phrase med avseende på is a formal expression used primarily in written Swedish, such as in academic texts, reports, and official documents. It translates to 'with regard to', 'with respect to', or 'in terms of'. Its main function is to narrow the focus of a statement to a specific point or characteristic.
The usual pattern taught here is: med avseende på + [noun/noun phrase].
While it is a very useful phrase in formal contexts, it is often too stiff for everyday conversation. In spoken language or less formal writing, other expressions are more common:
- När det gäller... (When it comes to...)
- Angående... (Regarding...)
- Vad gäller... (As for...)
- Om... (About...)
For an everyday description, instead of saying "Med avseende på maten var festen fantastisk" (With regard to the food, the party was fantastic), a speaker would more naturally say "När det gäller maten var festen fantastisk" or simply "Maten på festen var fantastisk".
Examples (5)
- Rapporten är ofullständig med avseende på de ekonomiska konsekvenserna.
The report is incomplete with regard to the financial consequences.
Word by Word: The report is incomplete with regard to the financial consequences.
- Systemet är effektivt med avseende på energiförbrukning.
The system is efficient in terms of energy consumption.
Word by Word: The system is efficient with regard to energy consumption.
Here, 'in terms of' is a good translation that captures how the phrase specifies the area of efficiency.
- De två modellerna skiljer sig åt med avseende på batteritid.
The two models differ with respect to battery life.
Word by Word: The two models differ themselves with regard to battery life.
- Lagen har ändrats med avseende på arvsrätt.
The law has been changed with respect to inheritance law.
Word by Word: The law has been changed with regard to inheritance law.
- Med avseende på din fråga kan jag meddela följande...
With regard to your question, I can inform you of the following...
Word by Word: With regard to your question I can inform the following...
This is a possible formal topic-setting opening. Angående din fråga is a simpler alternative when referring back to a question; med avseende på is especially useful for specifying an aspect or comparison criterion.
Common Mistakes
Omitting the preposition på in this fixed phrase.
Rapporten är ofullständig med avseende konsekvenserna.Rapporten är ofullständig med avseende på konsekvenserna.Keep the phrase med avseende på together before the relevant aspect. Using the full phrase in casual conversation is a register choice, not a grammatical error.
Confusing it with 'med tanke på' (considering/given).
Med avseende på det dåliga vädret stannar vi hemma.Med tanke på det dåliga vädret stannar vi hemma.'Med avseende på' specifies a topic for discussion ('with regard to the weather...'). 'Med tanke på' gives a reason for an action ('considering the bad weather...').
How It Connects
Learn This First
The formal phrase 'med avseende på' functions as a complex preposition. To understand it, a learner needs to be familiar with the basic prepositions 'med' and 'på', as well as the noun 'avseende' which acts as the head of the construction.
- medWith
The phrase is built using the preposition 'med' (with) as its starting component.
Level 1 - påOn/at
The phrase concludes with the preposition 'på' (on/at), which governs the following object.
Level 1 - avseendeRegarding/with Respect to
The core of the phrase is the noun 'avseende' (regard/respect), which provides the semantic meaning.
Level 4
Related Patterns
- när det gällerWhen It Comes to
A very common and less formal alternative. Both mean 'when it comes to' or 'regarding', but 'när det gäller' is suitable for both spoken and written Swedish, while 'med avseende på' is primarily for formal, written contexts.
Level 4 - angåendeRegarding/concerning
Another common synonym for 'regarding' or 'concerning'. 'Angående' is also quite formal but is slightly more versatile than 'med avseende på' and often appears at the beginning of emails or letters.
Level 4 - med tanke påConsidering/given
This phrase means 'considering' or 'given'. It's related because both are prepositional phrases that set a context, but 'med tanke på' introduces a reason or circumstance, whereas 'med avseende på' introduces a specific topic of discussion.
Level 4 - på grund avBecause Of/due to
På grund av means 'because of' or 'due to'. This is related as it's another multi-word prepositional phrase that explains causality, which contrasts with 'med avseende på' which specifies a topic.
Level 4 - Academic/legal register
Med avseende på occurs in formal and technical writing. Choose it when specifying an aspect makes the statement more precise, and prefer simpler wording when it adds no information.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice med avseende på in Bubblegum
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