in respect of sth / with respect to sth

Hi, teachers.

I'm quite confused about 'in respect of sth', 'with respect to sth' and some other expression.

In Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary,
in respect of sth = as regards sth; with special reference to sth
with respect to sth = concerning sth
as regards sb/sth = concerning or connected with sb/sth

So, can I infer that in respect of sth = with respect to sth?
Could you give me some advice about how to use them correctly?
In addition, these expressions are of some ambiguity for me too: as regards sth, concerning sth, in/with reference to sth.

Thank you in advance.
Enydia
^_^

enydia said:

Hi, teachers.

I'm quite confused about 'in respect of sth', 'with respect to sth' and some other expression.

In Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary,
in respect of sth = as regards sth; with special reference to sth
with respect to sth = concerning sth
as regards sb/sth = concerning or connected with sb/sth

So, can I infer that in respect of sth = with respect to sth?
Could you give me some advice about how to use them correctly?
In addition, these expressions are of some ambiguity for me too: as regards sth, concerning sth, in/with reference to sth.

Thank you in advance.
Enydia
^_^

Click to expand...

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Enydia.

(1) I have checked my dictionaries & books:

(a) In respect of, in respect to, with respect to, respecting = all "good" English. They can usually be used interchangeably.

(b) My two good dictionaries had "with respect to" > referring to, concerning, with reference to. (they did not list "in respect to")

(c) Dr. Randolph Quirk's famous grammar book gives many combinations:

with reference to
in/with respect to (He apparently agrees that they are the same)
On the matter of
With reference to
In respect of

(d) One business English textbook suggests:

in regard to/ with regard to
As regards

(e) In a business letter, sometimes people just write:

Re: invoice 87 (re = in re > regarding)

Some experts say that "re" is being replaced by "subject."

(2) As you already know, these terms are very formal and used in business

letters. If you wrote "With respect to" to your family or friends, it might

mean that you are angry with them!

Have a nice day!

Quite helpful!
Thank you very much. :-D

TheParser said:

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Enydia.

(1) I have checked my dictionaries & books:

(a) In respect of, in respect to, with respect to, respecting = all "good" English. They can usually be used interchangeably.

(b) My two good dictionaries had "with respect to" > referring to, concerning, with reference to. (they did not list "in respect to")
What does > mean here?

(c) Dr. Randolph Quirk's famous grammar book gives many combinations:

with reference to
in/with respect to (He apparently agrees that they are the same)
On the matter of
With reference to
In respect of

(d) One business English textbook suggests:

in regard to/ with regard to
As regards

(e) In a business letter, sometimes people just write:

Re: invoice 87 (re = in re > regarding)

Some experts say that "re" is being replaced by "subject."

(2) As you already know, these terms are very formal and used in business

letters. If you wrote "With respect to" to your family or friends, it might

mean that you are angry with them!
Can it be neutral?

Have a nice day!

Click to expand...

enydia said:

Quite helpful!
Thank you very much. :-D

Click to expand...

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Enydia.

(1) The symbol > is only my way of focusing attention on something!!!!

(2) Yes, I guess in a business letter, it is always "neutral."

(a) I guess it could also be neutral if discussing certain family matters. I

was just trying to explain that you would seldom use that with your

family and friends, because it is so formal.

(i) For example, when you write to your mother, you start:

Dear Mom,

(a) Can you imagine what your mother would think if you started your

letter like this:

Dear Mrs. Jones:

With respect to your last letter, ...

(3) I think you can find many good answers about this matter

if you read a book for secretaries. Such books (in stores, libraries, or online)

would probably help you with these phrases.

***** Thank you*****

:-DThank you very much.

TheParser said:

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Enydia.

(1) The symbol > is only my way of focusing attention on something!!!!

(2) Yes, I guess in a business letter, it is always "neutral."

(a) I guess it could also be neutral if discussing certain family matters. I

was just trying to explain that you would seldom use that with your

family and friends, because it is so formal.

Is there any alternative not so formal?

(i) For example, when you write to your mother, you start:

Dear Mom,

(a) Can you imagine what your mother would think if you started your

letter like this:

Dear Mrs. Jones:

With respect to your last letter, ...

(3) I think you can find many good answers about this matter

if you read a book for secretaries. Such books (in stores, libraries, or online)

would probably help you with these phrases.

***** Thank you*****

Click to expand...

I thought only lawyers like to use those phrases. ;-)

I personally do not see the need to use them when there are so many other simpler choices : regarding/concerning/as to/about/as regards/pertaining to

enydia said:

:-DThank you very much.

Click to expand...

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Enydia.

(1) I may not understand your question.

(2) Are you asking whether there are less formal ways to address

family or friends?

(a) I imagine just using the everyday language that one uses in speech

with them.

(i) In a business letter, you would say: With respect to your letter, ....

(ii) But in writing to your father, for example, you would surely

say something like:

Dear Dad, I got your letter and ....

(3) As I said, I may have misunderstood your question.

(4) Member Tedtmc has given you some good phrases that are indeed

less formal.

***** Thank you *****

P. S. I understand that even in business letters, some companies no

longer use such formal phrases. Everybody nowadays wants to be more

friendly.

TheParser said:

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Enydia.

(1) I may not understand your question.

(2) Are you asking whether there are less formal ways to address

family or friends?

(a) I imagine just using the everyday language that one uses in speech

with them.

(i) In a business letter, you would say: With respect to your letter, ....

(ii) But in writing to your father, for example, you would surely

say something like:

Dear Dad, I got your letter and ....

(3) As I said, I may have misunderstood your question.

(4) Member Tedtmc has given you some good phrases that are indeed

less formal.

***** Thank you *****

P. S. I understand that even in business letters, some companies no

longer use such formal phrases. Everybody nowadays wants to be more

friendly.

Click to expand...

You use the standard phrases in business or formal letters but not informal/personal letters. Here are some examples from both types.
Business/formal letters( to company/client/Government)
§ I'm writing with reference to your conversation this morning with our…..
§ Referring to the above matter and the offer letter dated xx we wish to inform you that….
§ Regarding your complaint, we have investigated the matter….

Personal/informal letters (family and friends)
§ I was so glad/happy/over-whelmed with joy to get your last letter!
§ I was so sorry to learn of your close one’s sudden demise
§ I just heard today that you have found yourself a new job
§ I accept with pleasure your invitation to the marriage of your sister..