according
According is used to show where information comes from, like saying who said or wrote something.
Explanation at your level:
You use according to to tell people where you got your news. For example, if your friend says it is sunny, you can say: 'According to my friend, it is sunny.' It is a very useful way to tell the truth about your information!
When you read a book or watch the news, you can use according to to explain the source. If the news says it is cold, you say 'According to the news, it is cold.' It helps people trust what you are saying.
Using according to is a great way to improve your English. It shows you can cite sources. Use it when talking about schedules, reports, or what other people think. It makes your sentences sound much more professional and clear.
At this level, you can use according to to contrast different sources. For instance, 'According to the company, profits are up, but according to the workers, they are struggling.' This nuance helps you build complex, sophisticated arguments in debates.
In advanced writing, according to serves as a rhetorical tool to distance yourself from a claim. By attributing a controversial idea to a source, you maintain objectivity. It is essential in academic writing to avoid sounding like you are stating personal bias as absolute fact.
Mastery of this word involves understanding its subtle role in discourse analysis. It is often used to frame evidence in legal, journalistic, or academic contexts. Recognizing when to use according to versus as stated by or in accordance with demonstrates a high level of lexical precision and stylistic awareness.
30秒でわかる単語
- Use 'according to' to cite sources.
- Never use it for your own opinion.
- It is followed by a noun or pronoun.
- It is a neutral, professional phrase.
Hey there! Think of according as your personal signpost for information. Whenever you want to share something you heard or read, you use this handy word to point to the source. It’s like saying, 'I didn't just make this up—here is where I got the facts!'
You will often see it paired with the word to. We almost never use according alone; it is almost always part of the phrase according to. Whether you are quoting a news report, a friend, or a rulebook, this word keeps your speech clear and honest.
The word according comes from the Old French word acorder, which means 'to reconcile' or 'to be of one heart.' It is built from the prefix ad- (to) and cord (heart). So, literally, it meant 'to bring hearts together' or 'to be in agreement.'
Over centuries, the meaning shifted from 'being in harmony' to 'being in agreement with a source.' By the 14th century, it moved into Middle English. It is a beautiful example of how language evolves from talking about feelings and hearts to talking about logic and sources!
In daily life, according to is your go-to phrase for reporting. You might say, 'According to the weather report, it will rain tomorrow.' It works perfectly in both casual chats and formal business emails.
Remember: never use according to when talking about your own opinion. You wouldn't say 'According to me, this cake is good,' because that sounds a bit silly! Instead, use it for outside sources like experts, books, or schedules.
While according to is the main structure, related concepts include: 1. Cut your coat according to your cloth (spend only what you can afford). 2. According to plan (happening exactly as expected). 3. According to Hoyle (doing something by the strict rules). 4. According to the book (following procedures exactly). 5. According to all accounts (based on what everyone says).
Pronounced uh-KOR-ding, the stress falls on the second syllable. In IPA, it is /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/. It rhymes with words like affording, recording, and boarding.
Grammatically, it is a preposition that requires an object. You always need to follow it with the source, such as 'According to the teacher.' It is a fixed phrase, so don't try to change 'to' to another preposition!
Fun Fact
The word contains 'cord', which is the Latin root for heart, found in 'cordial'!
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'r' sound in the middle.
Stronger 'r' sound.
Common Errors
- Missing the 'to' at the end
- Mispronouncing the 'k' sound
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to recognize.
Requires care with opinion.
Common in speech.
Very clear.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
上級
Grammar to Know
Prepositional Phrases
According to him.
Reporting Verbs
He said that...
Attribution
Based on the report.
Examples by Level
According to my mom, it is time for bed.
My mom says...
Prepositional phrase.
According to the map, we are here.
The map shows...
Used with a source.
According to the sign, no dogs allowed.
The sign says...
Attributing a rule.
According to him, the movie is great.
He says...
Pronoun usage.
According to the news, it will rain.
The news says...
Reporting facts.
According to you, this is easy.
You say...
Direct address.
According to the teacher, we have homework.
The teacher says...
School context.
According to the rules, we must wait.
The rules say...
Following instructions.
According to the forecast, it will be cold.
According to my watch, it is five o'clock.
According to the report, sales are up.
According to the schedule, the bus arrives at six.
According to the article, the city is old.
According to the instructions, press the button.
According to local law, you must wear a helmet.
According to the survey, people like coffee.
According to the latest research, sleep is vital.
According to the witness, the car was red.
According to the experts, the economy is stable.
According to the syllabus, the exam is Friday.
According to the critics, the play was a success.
According to the data, usage has increased.
According to the travel guide, this cafe is great.
According to the recipe, we need more salt.
According to the consensus, the policy needs revision.
According to the leaked documents, the project failed.
According to international standards, the water is safe.
According to the author, the book is a satire.
According to the analyst, the market is volatile.
According to the terms of the contract, payment is due.
According to the medical report, he has recovered.
According to the findings, the theory is correct.
According to the prevailing theory, the universe is expanding.
According to the mandate, all staff must attend.
According to the historical record, the event occurred in 1912.
According to the prevailing sentiment, change is necessary.
According to the stipulations of the treaty, borders were redrawn.
According to the empirical evidence, the hypothesis is flawed.
According to the consensus of scholars, the text is authentic.
According to the legal precedent, the case will be dismissed.
According to the prevailing orthodoxy, such methods are outdated.
According to the tenets of the philosophy, suffering is temporary.
According to the stipulations set forth in the codicil, the will is void.
According to the prevailing discourse, the paradigm has shifted.
According to the nuanced interpretation of the text, the meaning is ambiguous.
According to the rigorous methodology applied, the results are conclusive.
According to the prevailing socio-economic framework, the decline was inevitable.
According to the established protocols, the procedure was followed strictly.
よく使う組み合わせ
Idioms & Expressions
"cut your coat according to your cloth"
Live within your means.
You want a big car? Cut your coat according to your cloth.
idiomatic"according to Hoyle"
Strictly by the rules.
We did everything according to Hoyle.
formal"according to all accounts"
Based on what everyone says.
According to all accounts, he is a hero.
neutral"according to plan"
As expected.
The trip went according to plan.
neutral"according to the book"
Following the rules exactly.
He always does things according to the book.
neutral"according to your lights"
According to your own understanding.
You must act according to your lights.
literaryEasily Confused
Looks similar.
Adverb vs Preposition.
He acted accordingly (adverb). According to him (preposition).
Same root.
Noun vs Preposition.
In accordance with the law.
Learners think it's a synonym for 'I think'.
It is grammatically incorrect for opinion.
In my opinion vs According to the report.
Both cite sources.
Per is more formal/legal.
Per your request (legal) vs According to the news (general).
Sentence Patterns
According to [Source], [Statement].
According to the news, it is raining.
Everything went according to [Plan/Schedule].
Everything went according to plan.
According to [Expert], [Fact] is true.
According to the expert, the theory is true.
According to [Document], [Clause] applies.
According to the contract, the clause applies.
According to [Research], [Finding] is significant.
According to the research, the finding is significant.
語族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
関連
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
よくある間違い
You don't use 'according to' for your own thoughts.
The preposition is always 'to'.
Avoid redundancy; keep it concise.
Don't double up the source.
You need a noun source, not just the topic.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a reporter standing in your palace holding a sign that says 'According to...'
When Native Speakers Use It
We use it constantly when relaying news or instructions.
Cultural Insight
It helps show you are objective and not just sharing gossip.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow it with a noun: According to [Noun].
Say It Right
Focus on the 'or' sound in the middle.
Don't Make This Mistake
Never say 'According to me'.
Did You Know?
The word has 'cord' (heart) inside it.
Study Smart
Write down 5 sources you use daily and make sentences with them.
Pro Writing Tip
Use it to add credibility to your essays.
Speaking Hack
Use it to buy time while you think of a source!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-CORD-ing: Think of a cord (rope) connecting your statement to the source.
Visual Association
A reporter holding a microphone (the source) while speaking.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to start three sentences today with 'According to...'
語源
Old French / Latin
Original meaning: To bring hearts together
文化的な背景
None.
Used heavily in journalism and legal contexts to maintain neutrality.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
News/Weather
- According to the forecast
- According to the latest report
- According to the news
Work/Meetings
- According to the agenda
- According to the boss
- According to the data
School/Study
- According to the textbook
- According to the teacher
- According to the syllabus
Legal/Rules
- According to the law
- According to the contract
- According to the regulations
Conversation Starters
"According to the news, what is happening in the world today?"
"According to your friends, what is the best restaurant in town?"
"According to your schedule, what are you doing later?"
"According to your teachers, what is the most important subject?"
"According to the experts, what is the best way to learn English?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a rule you follow according to your parents.
Describe a news story you heard according to a report.
Explain your daily routine according to your schedule.
Write about a movie you saw according to the critics.
よくある質問
8 問No, it is better to say 'In my opinion'.
It is the present participle of 'accord', but as a preposition, it acts differently.
Yes, when used as a preposition to cite sources.
According to is a preposition; accordingly is an adverb meaning 'therefore'.
Yes, it is very common.
It is neutral and fits almost anywhere.
Yes, 'According to the book...' is perfect.
They often confuse it with 'in my opinion'.
自分をテスト
___ to the news, it is sunny.
The phrase is 'according to'.
Which is correct?
You don't use 'according to' for your own opinion.
Can you use 'according to' for your own feelings?
It is for external sources only.
Word
意味
Matching source to statement.
The phrase 'According to' must come first.
___ to the latest data, the trend is shifting.
Needs the prepositional phrase.
Which is most formal?
'As per' is highly formal.
Is 'accordingly' the same as 'according to'?
Accordingly is an adverb meaning 'therefore'.
Standard academic structure.
The rules were applied ___ to the contract.
Use 'in accordance with' for formal compliance.
スコア： /10
Summary
Always use 'according to' to point to an outside source, never to your own thoughts.
- Use 'according to' to cite sources.
- Never use it for your own opinion.
- It is followed by a noun or pronoun.
- It is a neutral, professional phrase.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a reporter standing in your palace holding a sign that says 'According to...'
When Native Speakers Use It
We use it constantly when relaying news or instructions.
Cultural Insight
It helps show you are objective and not just sharing gossip.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow it with a noun: According to [Noun].
