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B1 preposition #34 most common 8 min read

according

Top 34

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips according in 30 Seconds

Explanation according in your Level:

At the A1 level, you can think of 'according to' as a way to say 'this person said this' or 'this book says this.' It is a simple way to show where you got your information. For example, if you are talking about the weather, you can say 'According to the radio, it is sunny.' This tells your friend that you didn't just guess it was sunny; you heard it on the radio. It is very useful when you want to talk about rules or what other people think. You might use it with your family or teachers, like 'According to Mom, we are eating at six.' It helps you share news from other people easily. Just remember to always use 'to' after 'according.'

At the A2 level, you start using 'according to' to follow simple instructions and report what you have read or heard in more detail. You might see it in short news stories or on signs. For example, 'According to the sign, the museum is closed on Mondays.' This level involves understanding that 'according to' points to a source of truth that isn't you. You can also use it to describe how things are organized, like 'The students are in groups according to their age.' This shows you understand that 'according' can mean 'following a rule' or 'based on a category.' It is a very helpful phrase for basic social interactions and following directions in an English-speaking environment.

At the B1 level, 'according to' becomes a key tool for providing evidence in your speaking and writing. You use it to attribute opinions, cite facts from articles, and explain why things are happening based on a specific plan or set of rules. You should be able to use it comfortably in phrases like 'Everything went according to plan' or 'According to recent statistics.' At this level, you also learn the important rule that you should not say 'according to me' when giving your own opinion. You are expected to use it to distinguish between your own ideas and the ideas of others, which is a vital skill for passing B1 exams and participating in workplace discussions.

At the B2 level, you use 'according to' with more precision and in more complex sentences. You might use it to contrast different sources of information, such as 'According to the government, the economy is growing, but according to local business owners, times are tough.' This shows you can handle multiple perspectives. You also use it in more abstract ways, such as 'acting according to one's principles.' At this level, you are expected to understand the nuance of attribution and use 'according to' to build logical arguments in essays. You also begin to recognize more formal variations like 'in accordance with' and understand when to use them instead of the simpler 'according to' in professional or academic contexts.

At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated grasp of 'according to' and its role in discourse markers. You use it to frame complex information and to subtly signal the reliability of a source. You might use it in academic writing to synthesize various viewpoints: 'According to various scholars, the impact of technology is twofold.' You also understand how to use the word to describe complex systems of proportionality and alignment. At this level, you are sensitive to the register and might choose 'per' for business brevity or 'in accordance with' for legal precision. You use 'according to' not just to report, but to strategically position information within a broader narrative or argument.

At the C2 level, 'according to' is used with absolute mastery, often appearing in highly nuanced or idiomatic contexts. You might use it to discuss philosophical alignment or complex legal compliance. You understand the historical roots of the word and can use it to create a specific tone in your writing. You are also aware of rare uses like 'according as' and can interpret them in classical literature. At this level, 'according to' is just one of many tools you use to navigate the fine lines of attribution, authority, and evidence. You can use it to create irony, to emphasize a point, or to carefully distance yourself from a controversial statement in a high-stakes professional or academic environment.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

according in 30 Seconds

Used to state the source of information or a quote.
Indicates that something follows a specific rule or plan.
Shows how one thing changes in relation to another thing.
Always used with 'to' when acting as a preposition.

The word according is almost always paired with the preposition to, forming the functional unit according to. At its core, this word serves as a bridge between a statement and its source. When you use according, you are essentially pointing a finger at where information came from, whether that is a person, a book, a set of rules, or a specific situation. It is one of the most vital tools in the English language for attribution, allowing speakers to distance themselves from the absolute truth of a claim by grounding it in a specific perspective or evidence base. For example, saying 'It is raining' is a direct observation, but saying 'According to the forecast, it is raining' shifts the responsibility of the claim to the meteorologists. This nuance is crucial in academic, professional, and daily communication because it acknowledges that information is often subjective or derived from specific data points rather than being universal knowledge.

Attribution: The act of giving credit to a source for information or ideas. 'According to' is the primary prepositional phrase for this purpose.
Compliance: Acting in a way that follows a set of rules or a plan. 'Everything went according to plan' implies that reality matched the intended design.
Proportionality: Adjusting something based on a specific factor. 'Salary is paid according to experience' means the amount changes based on the level of skill.

In social contexts, according is used to report hearsay or to cite authority. If a student says, 'According to the teacher, the exam is postponed,' they are using the teacher's authority to validate the news. In a more technical sense, it describes alignment. When a machine operates according to specifications, it is performing exactly as the engineers intended. This versatility makes it a B1-level word because while the basic meaning is simple, the applications range from simple reporting to complex legal and scientific alignment. It helps avoid the trap of sounding too certain about things you haven't personally verified, which is a key step in developing sophisticated communication skills.

The results were sorted according to their relevance to the search query.

Everything went according to plan during the launch event.

Students are grouped according to their language proficiency levels.

According to the latest research, sleep is vital for memory consolidation.

The price varies according to the season and availability.

Formal Usage: In legal documents, you might see 'in accordance with', which is a more formal version of 'according to'.
Scientific Usage: Used to categorize data based on specific variables or parameters.

Using according correctly requires understanding its grammatical placement and the preposition that follows it. In 99% of cases, you will use the phrase according to. This phrase can appear at the beginning of a sentence to set the context or in the middle to provide a basis for a statement. When it appears at the beginning, it functions as an introductory prepositional phrase. For instance, 'According to the manual, you must press the red button first.' Here, the source (the manual) is established before the instruction. This structure is very common in news reporting and academic writing where the source is as important as the information itself.

Sentence Initial: According to the report, sales increased by ten percent last quarter.
Sentence Medial: The employees were paid according to the number of hours they worked.

Another important usage is in the phrase according as, though this is much rarer and more formal, used to mean 'depending on whether'. However, for most learners, focusing on according to is the priority. You must also be careful with the object of the preposition. The object should be a noun or a noun phrase representing a source or a standard. You can say 'according to the law' or 'according to Sarah,' but you cannot say 'according to what I think' in standard English—you would simply say 'in my opinion.' This is a frequent error for non-native speakers who try to translate 'according to' directly from their native language where it might be used for self-attribution.

The books are arranged according to the author's last name.

Furthermore, according is used to describe things that are done in a way that is consistent with something else. If you act according to your conscience, your actions match your internal moral compass. If a project is completed according to schedule, it is finished on time. This usage emphasizes alignment and adherence to a predefined path. It is also used to show variation. 'The price of the hotel room changes according to the view.' Here, the view is the variable that determines the price. This demonstrates the word's ability to handle both fixed sources and variable conditions, making it an essential part of descriptive English.

In the real world, you will hear according to most frequently in news broadcasts and journalistic writing. Journalists use it to maintain objectivity. Instead of saying 'The suspect is guilty,' they will say 'According to the police report, the suspect was at the scene.' This protects the journalist from making unverified claims. You will also hear it constantly in professional environments during meetings. Managers might say, 'According to our data, we need to pivot our strategy.' This grounds the decision in evidence rather than personal whim. It is a word of authority and evidence.

In casual conversation, it is used to share information you heard from someone else. 'According to Mike, the party starts at eight.' It is a way of saying 'I'm just the messenger.' You also hear it in instructions, whether they are for a board game, a recipe, or assembling furniture. 'Cook the pasta according to the package directions' is a phrase found in almost every kitchen. It directs the user to a specific source of truth. In academic settings, it is the bread and butter of citations. 'According to Smith (2020), the climate is changing rapidly.' Without this word, academic discourse would struggle to attribute ideas to their original thinkers.

The most common mistake learners make is saying 'According to me'. In English, according to is used for external sources. When you want to express your own view, you should use 'In my opinion,' 'I believe,' or 'From my perspective.' Using 'according to me' sounds unnatural and can even come across as slightly arrogant or humorous to native speakers, as if you are citing yourself as an official authority. Another mistake is using the wrong preposition, such as 'according with' or 'according by.' While 'in accordance with' is a valid (and more formal) phrase, 'according' on its own always takes 'to' when used as a preposition.

Another error involves comma placement. If according to [source] starts a sentence, a comma is usually required before the main clause. For example: 'According to the weather report, it will rain.' Omitting this comma can make the sentence harder to read. Additionally, some learners confuse according with accordingly. While they are related, accordingly is an adverb meaning 'in a way that is appropriate to the situation.' For example, 'The rules have changed, and you must act accordingly.' You cannot replace 'according to' with 'accordingly' or vice versa without changing the entire grammatical structure of the sentence.

There are several ways to express attribution or alignment without using according. 'Based on' is a very common alternative, especially when referring to data or evidence. 'Based on the evidence, the theory is sound.' This implies that the evidence is the foundation of the thought. 'As stated by' is more formal and often used when quoting a person directly. 'As stated by the CEO, the company is expanding.' This is very common in formal reports and speeches. 'Per' is a shorter, more business-like alternative, often used in emails: 'Per our conversation, I am sending the files.'

According to vs. Based on: 'According to' focuses on the source of information, while 'Based on' focuses on the evidence or reasoning derived from that source.
According to vs. In accordance with: 'In accordance with' is much more formal and usually refers to following rules, laws, or official requests.

In informal settings, people often just use 'says' or 'said'. 'The news said it's going to rain' is the casual equivalent of 'According to the news, it's going to rain.' For showing proportionality, you might use 'depending on'. 'The price varies depending on the size' is very similar to 'The price varies according to the size.' Choosing between these depends on the level of formality you want to achieve and whether you are focusing on the source of the information or the relationship between two variables.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The root 'cor' means heart, so 'according' literally means bringing hearts together or being of one heart.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /əˈkɔː.dɪŋ/

US /əˈkɔːr.dɪŋ/

The stress is on the second syllable: ac-CORD-ing.

Rhymes With

recording awarding affording hoarding boarding wording discarding guarding

Common Errors

Pronouncing the first 'a' like 'ay' instead of a schwa.
Dropping the 'g' at the end (accordin').
Stress on the first syllable.
Over-emphasizing the 'o' sound.
Confusing the 'or' sound with 'ar'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in text as a source marker.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct comma usage and avoiding 'according to me'.

Speaking 3/5

Natural use requires understanding attribution vs. opinion.

Listening 2/5

Very common in news and clear to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

to say plan report news

Learn Next

accordingly accordance consequently therefore however

Advanced

in accordance with pursuant to proportional to

Grammar to Know

Comma usage after introductory phrases

According to the map, we are here.

Prepositional phrases as adverbs

He acted according to the rules.

Distinction between 'according to' and 'in my opinion'

In my opinion (not according to me), the movie was boring.

Noun phrase objects after prepositions

According to the very long and detailed report...

Proportionality with 'vary'

Prices vary according to demand.

Examples by Level

According to the clock, it is 5:00.

Based on the clock...

Simple attribution to an object.

According to Mom, we are leaving now.

Mom says...

Attribution to a person.

The toys are in boxes according to color.

Sorted by color.

Showing categorization.

According to the map, the park is here.

The map shows...

Attribution to a document.

Everything is according to the rules.

Following the rules.

Showing compliance.

According to the book, cats like milk.

The book says...

Attribution to a text.

We play according to the teacher's instructions.

Following the teacher.

Showing adherence.

According to the weather, we need coats.

Because of the weather...

Attribution to conditions.

According to the news, it will snow tomorrow.

The news report says...

Reporting media information.

The price changes according to the size of the pizza.

Depends on the size.

Showing variation.

According to the sign, you cannot park here.

The sign says no parking.

Reporting a prohibition.

He dressed according to the party theme.

Matching the theme.

Showing alignment.

According to my friend, the movie was great.

My friend said...

Reporting a personal opinion.

The bus arrived according to the timetable.

On time, as scheduled.

Showing schedule adherence.

Sort the files according to their date.

By date.

Categorization by time.

According to the recipe, we need three eggs.

The recipe says...

Following instructions.

According to the report, the project is on track.

The official report says...

Professional attribution.

Everything went according to plan during the event.

As we planned.

Common idiomatic phrase.

According to the law, you must wear a seatbelt.

The law requires...

Legal attribution.

The students were divided according to their abilities.

Based on skill.

Showing proportionality.

According to recent research, exercise improves mood.

Studies show...

Scientific attribution.

He was paid according to the amount of work he did.

Based on output.

Showing correlation.

According to the instructions, you should restart the computer.

The manual says...

Technical instruction.

They acted according to their beliefs.

Following their values.

Abstract alignment.

According to the witness, the car was speeding.

The witness stated...

Reporting testimony.

The results vary according to the method used.

Depends on the method.

Scientific variation.

According to the contract, the work must be finished by June.

The legal agreement says...

Contractual obligation.

He was judged according to the standards of the time.

By those historical standards.

Contextual judgment.

According to the latest figures, inflation is falling.

The data shows...

Economic reporting.

The seating was arranged according to rank.

By status.

Social hierarchy.

According to the article, the city is becoming more expensive.

The newspaper says...

Media analysis.

We must proceed according to the safety guidelines.

Following safety rules.

Procedural adherence.

According to the prevailing theory, the universe is expanding.

The main scientific idea is...

Theoretical attribution.

The budget was allocated according to the needs of each department.

Distributed by necessity.

Complex distribution.

According to the critic, the novel lacks depth.

The reviewer thinks...

Critical attribution.

The penalty was applied according to the severity of the offense.

Matching the crime.

Legal proportionality.

According to the survey, customer satisfaction is at an all-time high.

The data from the survey says...

Statistical attribution.

He lived his life according to a strict moral code.

Following his ethics.

Ethical alignment.

According to the document, the property was sold in 1920.

The record shows...

Historical record.

The tax rate varies according to your annual income.

Depends on how much you earn.

Economic proportionality.

According to the dictates of fashion, this style is now obsolete.

As fashion rules say...

Metaphorical authority.

The narrative unfolds according to a non-linear structure.

Following a complex pattern.

Literary analysis.

According to the provisions of the treaty, peace was restored.

As the treaty required...

Diplomatic language.

The species was classified according to its genetic markers.

Based on DNA.

Biological classification.

According to the philosopher, reality is a social construct.

The thinker argues that...

Philosophical attribution.

The inheritance was divided according to the deceased's last will.

As the will stated.

Legal adherence.

According to the consensus, the policy was a failure.

Everyone agrees that...

Collective attribution.

The experiment was conducted according to rigorous scientific protocols.

Following strict rules.

Methodological adherence.

Common Collocations

according to plan

according to research

according to the law

according to the news

according to sources

vary according to

sorted according to

according to the manual

according to the schedule

according to the report

Common Phrases

According to all accounts

— Based on everything that has been said by everyone.

According to all accounts, he was a very kind man.

According to Hoyle

— Following the rules strictly (often used in games).

We played the game according to Hoyle.

According to custom

— Following traditional ways of doing things.

They were married according to custom.

According to the script

— Following a prepared plan or expected sequence.

The meeting went exactly according to the script.

According to the gospel of

— Based on the absolute belief or teaching of someone.

According to the gospel of Steve Jobs, design is everything.

According to the book

— Doing something exactly as the rules state.

The officer did everything according to the book.

According to scale

— Drawn or made in exact proportion to the original.

The map is drawn according to scale.

According to need

— Distributed based on what people actually require.

Resources were given out according to need.

According to merit

— Based on how well someone has performed.

The bonus was awarded according to merit.

According to rumor

— Based on unverified stories people are telling.

According to rumor, they are getting a divorce.

Often Confused With

according vs Accordingly

Accordingly is an adverb meaning 'therefore' or 'in a suitable way', while 'according to' is a preposition.

according vs In accordance with

This is a more formal version of 'according to', used mostly for rules and laws.

according vs In my opinion

Use this instead of 'according to me' when expressing your own thoughts.

Idioms & Expressions

"Go according to plan"

— To happen exactly as intended without any problems.

The wedding went according to plan.

Informal/Neutral

"Cut your coat according to your cloth"

— To live within your means or adjust your plans to your resources.

We wanted a big house, but we had to cut our coat according to our cloth.

Idiomatic

"According to one's lights"

— According to one's own standards or understanding.

He did the job well, according to his lights.

Literary

"According to the letter of the law"

— Following the exact words of a law rather than its intent.

He followed the letter of the law, but not its spirit.

Formal/Legal

"According to expectations"

— Happening in the way that people thought it would.

The movie performed according to expectations.

Neutral

"According to the dictates of"

— Following the strong commands or requirements of something.

He acted according to the dictates of his conscience.

Formal

"According to specification"

— Exactly as described in the technical requirements.

The part was manufactured according to specification.

Technical

"According to form"

— Happening in the usual or expected way.

The favorite won the race, according to form.

Neutral

"According to the clock"

— Based strictly on the time shown.

We have ten minutes left according to the clock.

Neutral

"According to the evidence"

— Based on the facts presented in a case.

According to the evidence, he is innocent.

Legal

Easily Confused

according vs Accordance

Similar root and sound.

Accordance is a noun used in the phrase 'in accordance with'.

He acted in accordance with the law.

according vs Accordingly

Adverb form of the same root.

It means 'consequently' or 'properly'.

The rules changed; please act accordingly.

according vs According as

Rare grammatical structure.

Means 'depending on whether'.

The fee varies according as you are a member or not.

according vs Accord

The base verb/noun.

Means an agreement or to give someone status.

They reached an accord.

according vs Recording

Sounds very similar (rhymes).

A recording is an audio or video file.

I am listening to a recording.

Sentence Patterns

According to [Person], [Statement].

According to Sam, it is cold.

According to the [Source], [Statement].

According to the news, it is raining.

Everything went according to [Plan/Schedule].

Everything went according to plan.

[Noun] varies according to [Noun].

Price varies according to size.

According to [Research/Study], [Clause].

According to recent research, sleep is key.

Act according to [Principles/Beliefs].

He acted according to his principles.

According to the provisions of [Document], [Clause].

According to the provisions of the treaty, the war ended.

Classified according to [Criteria].

The stars are classified according to their brightness.

Word Family

Nouns

accord

accordance

Verbs

accord

Adjectives

accordant

accordance

accordingly

accord

discord

concord

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in academic and journalistic English.

Common Mistakes

According to me, it's a good idea. → In my opinion, it's a good idea.
You cannot cite yourself as an external source.
According the weather, it will rain. → According to the weather, it will rain.
The preposition 'to' is mandatory.
Everything went according with plan. → Everything went according to plan.
'According' takes 'to', not 'with'.
According to the report it is true. → According to the report, it is true.
A comma is needed after the introductory phrase.
He acted according. → He acted accordingly.
Use the adverb 'accordingly' when there is no 'to' and no following noun.

Tips

The 'To' Rule

Always remember that 'according' needs 'to' when you are citing a source. Never say 'according the news'.

Vary Your Sources

In an essay, don't start every sentence with 'According to'. Use 'The author states' or 'Research suggests' for variety.

Avoid Self-Citing

Native speakers will find it strange if you say 'According to me'. Stick to 'I think' for your own ideas.

News Marker

When you hear 'According to' on the news, get ready to hear a fact or a quote from an official.

Comma Placement

A comma after an introductory 'According to...' phrase makes your writing much clearer for the reader.

Business Accuracy

Use 'According to our records' in emails to provide evidence for your claims without sounding aggressive.

Citation Tool

This is your best friend for B1 and B2 level writing exams. It shows you can attribute information correctly.

Proportionality

Use it to show how things change together: 'The difficulty increases according to the level'.

Family Members

Learn 'accordingly' at the same time. It helps you link sentences together logically.

Objectivity

Using 'according to' helps you sound more objective and less biased in discussions.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'Accord' car following the rules of the road. 'According to' the rules, the Accord stops at red lights.

Visual Association

Imagine a reporter holding a microphone and pointing to a large book labeled 'FACTS'.

Word Web

Source Rule Plan Proportion Attribution Evidence Authority Agreement

Challenge

Try to use 'according to' three times today: once for the weather, once for a friend's opinion, and once for a rule.

Word Origin

From the Old French word 'acorder', which means to agree or be in harmony.

Original meaning: To bring into agreement or to reconcile.

Latin (ad- 'to' + cor/cordis 'heart').

Cultural Context

Be careful not to use 'according to' to dismiss someone's opinion as 'just' their opinion in a rude way.

Used heavily in news like BBC or CNN to maintain 'neutrality'.

The Declaration of Independence (concepts of accordance) Common news catchphrase: 'According to sources close to the President...' Scientific journals: 'According to the data...'

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weather

According to the forecast
According to the weather app
According to the news
According to the sky

Rules

According to the law
According to the rules
According to the manual
According to the teacher

Work

According to the report
According to the data
According to the boss
According to the schedule

Social

According to my friend
According to rumor
According to everyone
According to the invitation

Academic

According to the author
According to the study
According to the evidence
According to the theory

Conversation Starters

"According to the news I saw this morning, there is a big event happening..."

"Everything is going according to plan for my vacation. How about yours?"

"According to the latest reviews, that new restaurant is amazing."

"Do you always follow recipes according to the instructions, or do you change them?"

"According to your experience, what is the best way to learn English?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time when everything went according to plan.

Describe a rule in your country that everyone must follow according to the law.

According to your own values, what is the most important quality in a friend?

Write a summary of a news article, starting with 'According to the article...'

How do you sort your books or clothes? Is it according to color, size, or something else?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, it is considered incorrect in standard English. You should use 'In my opinion' or 'I think' instead. 'According to' is for external sources.

It is neutral. It can be used in casual conversation ('According to my sister') and in formal writing ('According to the study').

'According to' usually points to the source of information, while 'based on' points to the evidence or the foundation of an idea.

If the phrase starts the sentence, yes. For example: 'According to the report, we are winning.' If it's in the middle, usually no.

Yes, it is very common for rules. 'According to the rules of the game, you cannot touch the ball with your hands.'

It means that everything happened exactly as it was planned, with no mistakes or surprises.

Yes, it is a multi-word preposition (also called a compound preposition).

Rarely. It is almost always followed by 'to' or 'as', or used as the adverb 'accordingly'.

It is pronounced uh-KOR-ding, with the stress on the second syllable.

The closest opposite is 'contrary to', which means the opposite of what a source says.