5 exercises — practise "regarding", "with regard to", and "as regards" as formal topic markers.
0 / 16 completed
1 / 16
Which sentence correctly uses "regarding" as a preposition without an extra "to"?
"Regarding the caching strategy, we still need to decide on an eviction policy" is correct: "regarding" already functions as a full preposition meaning "concerning", so it takes the noun phrase directly with no added "to" or "of". Option B incorrectly adds "to". Option C incorrectly adds "of". Option D wrongly combines "as" with "regarding", which isn't a standard fixed phrase.
2 / 16
Choose the sentence that correctly uses the singular "regard" (not "regards") in the fixed phrase "with regard to".
"With regard to the retry policy, exponential backoff is now the default" is correct: the formal fixed phrase is "with regard to", using the singular "regard" (unlike the informal, common but less formally accepted "with regards to"). Option B uses the plural "regards", which is widely used informally but not the prescribed formal pattern. Option C incorrectly substitutes "of" for "to". Option D drops the required "with" and "to".
3 / 16
Select the sentence that correctly uses "as regards" (always singular "regards" here, unlike the plural error above) as a formal topic marker.
"As regards the migration timeline, no changes have been approved yet" is correct: in this one fixed phrase, "regards" (with -s, as a verb form) is standard and takes the noun phrase directly, no added "to". Option B incorrectly drops the "-s". Option C inserts an unnecessary pronoun and preposition. Option D incorrectly adds "to" after "regards", a common but nonstandard blend with "with regard to".
4 / 16
Which sentence correctly places "regarding" mid-sentence to introduce a sub-topic within meeting minutes, without a comma splice?
"The team raised a concern regarding the third-party SDK's licensing terms" is correct: "regarding" directly introduces the noun phrase mid-sentence with no extra words. Option B wrongly adds "to". Option C awkwardly appends a redundant "it was" after an unnecessary comma. Option D incorrectly combines "as" with "regarding".
5 / 16
Choose the sentence that correctly distinguishes "regarding" (single word, no "to") from "with regard to" (multi-word, requires "to") in the same sentence.
"Regarding the deadline, and with regard to the budget, both remain unchanged" is correct: "regarding" needs no "to", while the multi-word phrase "with regard to" does require "to" — both correctly formed here. Option B reverses this, wrongly adding "to" after "regarding" and omitting it after "with regard". Option C uses the bare verb "regard" incorrectly and mixes in "regarding" where "regard" is needed. Option D uses plural "regards" and omits the required "to".
6 / 16
Reviewer: 'The API response is returning a 500 error. Regarding the authentication tokens, I'm seeing inconsistencies in their format across different user accounts. Could you investigate?'
Which of the following responses best reflects a professional and formal communication from the developer?
The key here is using 'regarding' to introduce a specific problem within the larger issue. The original message from the reviewer highlights a precise technical detail – inconsistencies in authentication tokens. Option 2 correctly uses 'regarding' to focus the discussion on that particular aspect of the API response, demonstrating appropriate formal communication and avoiding overly broad statements. Options A, B, and D are all too vague or dismissive, failing to acknowledge the specific problem raised.
7 / 16
Reviewer: 'The API response is returning a 500 error. Regarding the authentication tokens, I'm seeing inconsistencies in their format across different user accounts. Could you investigate?'
Which of the following responses best reflects a professional and formal communication from the developer?
The key here is using 'regarding' to introduce a specific problem within the larger issue. The original message from the reviewer highlights a precise technical detail – inconsistencies in authentication tokens. Option 2 correctly uses 'regarding' to focus the discussion on that particular aspect of the API response, demonstrating appropriate formal communication and avoiding overly broad statements. Options A, B, and D are all too vague or dismissive, failing to acknowledge the specific problem raised.
8 / 16
Reviewer: 'The API response is returning a 500 error. Regarding the authentication tokens, I'm seeing inconsistencies in their format across different user accounts. Could you investigate?'
Which of the following responses best reflects a professional and formal communication from the developer?
The key here is using 'regarding' to introduce a specific problem within the larger issue. The original message from the reviewer highlights a precise technical detail – inconsistencies in authentication tokens. Option 2 correctly uses 'regarding' to focus the discussion on that particular aspect of the API response, demonstrating appropriate formal communication and avoiding overly broad statements. Options A, B, and D are all too vague or dismissive, failing to acknowledge the specific problem raised.
9 / 16
Reviewer: 'The build failed. Regarding the database schema migration script, I noticed a potential race condition.'
Which of the following responses best utilizes 'regarding' in this context?
This question tests using 'regarding' to introduce a specific topic within a longer discussion. The correct answer uses 'regarding' to focus the conversation on the database migration script and highlights the need for mitigation strategies. Options A and B misuse 'regarding', while option C shifts the focus unnecessarily, and option D is too vague.
10 / 16
Standup Update: 'Yesterday, I was working on refactoring the authentication module. With regard to the OAuth flow, we've identified a potential bottleneck.'
What is the primary difference in usage between 'regarding' and 'with regard to'?
This question directly addresses the core difference in usage. 'Regarding' introduces a new topic or aspect, whereas 'with regard to' specifies a detail *within* an existing topic or context. Using 'regarding' without 'to' is more concise and often preferred when introducing a sub-topic.
11 / 16
Code Review Comment: 'The new logging implementation is well done. As regards error handling, could you add more granular logging to help with debugging?'
Which of the following sentences correctly uses 'regarding' in this scenario?
This question assesses understanding of 'regarding' as a connector. The correct answer uses 'regarding' to introduce the specific point for improvement – the need for more granular error handling logs. Options A and B are grammatically incorrect, option C is awkward phrasing, and option D incorrectly uses 'as regards'.
12 / 16
PR Description: 'Regarding the new feature implementation, we've addressed the performance bottlenecks identified in the previous report.'
Which of the following sentences is the MOST appropriate way to rephrase this description?
While all options are technically grammatically correct, 'With regard to' is the most formal and precise phrasing when introducing a specific detail within a PR description. The other options use slightly less appropriate wording or introduce unnecessary elements. This tests understanding of formality in technical documentation.
13 / 16
Standup Update: 'Yesterday, I was working on improving the error handling in the payment processing service. With regard to the new transaction logging, we're evaluating different reporting tools.'
What is the primary difference in usage between 'regarding' and 'with regard to' in this context?
The key distinction lies in the level of specificity. 'Regarding' introduces a general topic, while 'with regard to' indicates a specific aspect or component *within* that broader topic. Using them interchangeably can lead to ambiguity and weaken communication. This question focuses on nuanced usage within formal language.
14 / 16
Sarah is writing a commit message for a new feature. Regarding the user interface changes, she wants to highlight the impact on accessibility. Which sentence best reflects this?
'With regard to' is used to introduce a specific topic. 'As regards' functions similarly here. Options A and D use 'regarding' incorrectly without 'to'. Option B misuses 'regards'.
15 / 16
David is writing a technical report about the new database schema. With regard to data migration, he needs to specify the process. Which sentence demonstrates correct usage?
'With regard to' correctly introduces the specific topic (data migration) within the phrase. Options A and D use 'regarding' inappropriately. Option B focuses on a general principle rather than specifying the process.
16 / 16
During a team meeting, Mark is discussing the upcoming deployment. As regards the rollback plan, he wants to ensure everyone understands it. Which statement best reflects this?
'As regards' is the correct form for introducing a topic of discussion. Options A and D misuse 'regarding'. Option B emphasizes the procedure itself, which aligns with the context.
What will I practise in "Formal Topic Markers: "Regarding", "With Regard To", "As Regards" — IT Grammar Exercise"?
Practise formal topic-introducing phrases — "regarding" (no added preposition), "with regard to" (singular "regard"), and "as regards" — for shifting subject
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 16 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
Is this exercise free to use?
Yes. Every exercise on CoderSlingo, including this one, is free to use with no account, sign-up, or paywall.
Do I need to create an account to do these exercises?
No account is required. Just click an option to answer — your score for this session is tracked automatically in the progress bar above.
What happens if I choose the wrong answer?
You'll immediately see which answer was correct, plus a full explanation covering the grammar rule and reasoning behind it — mistakes are where most of the learning happens.
Can I retry the exercises if I want a higher score?
Yes — use the "Try again" button on the results screen to reset and go through all the questions again.
Is my progress saved if I close the page?
No. Progress is tracked only for your current visit; reloading or leaving the page resets the counter. This keeps the exercise simple and account-free.
Where can I find more Grammar exercises?
Browse the full Grammar hub for related drills, or check the "Next up" link below to continue with a connected topic.
How is this different from reading an article on the same topic?
Articles explain grammar rules in prose; this exercise tests and reinforces those rules through active recall with immediate feedback — the two work best together.
Who writes these exercises?
Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.