Academic Language Complete Practice Test 2026

Understanding synonyms for “about” in formal writing helps you point to the topic clearly. “As regards” is a formal way to say “concerning” or “with regard to,” so it directly signals the subject under discussion. It fits sentences like “As regards the budget, we need to review our priorities,” where the sentence is introducing the topic. The other options don’t signal the topic in the same way: “not including” means excluding; “in terms of” shifts to viewpoint or measurement rather than the subject matter; “in the case of” means in a particular situation. So the best choice is “as regards.”