according to

according to — preposition

1. used when giving information that comes from a particular person, document, repo

1.prepositionB1
Definition

used when giving information that comes from a particular person, document, report, or other source — showing where the facts or opinions come from

Example

According to the weather forecast, heavy rain is expected all weekend.

according to + source noun phrase (the weather forecast)

According to Dr. Amara Okonkwo, the patient should be able to leave the hospital by Friday.

Common collocations
  • according to reports
  • according to sources
  • according to tradition
  • according to the law
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

according to + noun phrase

Usage Note

The source always follows immediately after 'according to' — a person's name, a document title, or a general noun (the law, reports, tradition). Very common in academic and news writing.

Common Mistakes

According to me, this is a bad idea.
In my opinion, this is a bad idea.
'According to me' sounds unnatural; use 'in my opinion' for your own views.
According to the teacher said, the exam is next week.
According to the teacher, the exam is next week.
Do not add 'said' after 'according to'; the phrase already shows the information source.

2. in a way that follows a rule, system, standard, or arrangement — showing the bas

2.prepositionB2
Definition

in a way that follows a rule, system, standard, or arrangement — showing the basis on which something is decided, organized, or judged

Example

The children were divided into three teams according to their age and ability.

according to + criteria nouns (age, ability)

Salaries at the factory are paid according to how many years someone has worked there.

Common collocations
  • according to the rules
  • according to the law
  • according to tradition
  • according to size
  • according to age
  • according to need
Synonyms
  • in accordance with

    more formal; common in legal and official documents

  • in line with

    suggests consistency rather than strict rule-following

  • depending on

    focuses on variation caused by a factor, rather than active rule-following

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

according to + noun phrase

Usage Note

Subject is typically a classification or decision (groups, salaries, arrangements, prices, rankings). The object of 'according to' names the rule or factor that controls the outcome.

Common Mistakes

According to the rules, we must follow.
According to the rules, we must follow the safety procedures.
'According to' needs a noun phrase after it; do not leave the sentence incomplete.

3. happening or developing exactly as intended or expected — used only in the fixed

3.prepositionB2
Definition

happening or developing exactly as intended or expected — used only in the fixed expression 'go according to plan' or similar structures

Example

The whole event went according to plan, and everyone had a wonderful time.

fixed expression: go according to plan

Nothing went according to plan on our trip — we missed two flights and lost a suitcase.

Common collocations
  • go according to plan
  • proceed according to plan
  • work out according to plan
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • off track

    informal opposite — not proceeding as planned

Grammar Patterns

go + according to plan

work out + according to plan

Usage Note

This sense is restricted to the fixed expression 'according to plan.' It almost always appears with the verb 'go' (go according to plan) and in negative sentences or questions (nothing went according to plan; did it go according to plan?).

Common Mistakes

The meeting was according to plan.
The meeting went according to plan.
The expression requires a verb like 'go,' 'work out,' or 'proceed' before it.
Idioms

cut your coat according to your cloth

idiom

to spend only as much money as you have available, rather than borrowing money or spending more than you can afford

The Watanabe family wanted a bigger house, but they had to cut their coat according to their cloth and buy a smaller one.

With the budget cuts, the school is cutting its coat according to its cloth by reducing travel costs.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: preposition/1

All four expressions introduce the source of information, but they differ in register and use. 'According to' is the most neutral and versatile — it works with people, documents, forecasts, and general sources (according to the law, according to tradition). 'As stated by' is more formal and appears mainly in legal, academic, or official contexts where precise attribution matters (as stated by the witness). 'As reported by' is specific to news and media — it signals that the information comes from a journalistic source (as reported by the BBC). 'In the words of' introduces a direct or close quotation from a named speaker and is common in essays and speeches (in the words of the president). Use 'according to' in everyday speech and general writing; reserve the others for formal or media-specific contexts.

according to ↗as stated byas reported byin the words of

Common collocations

Nouns

  • according to the rules
  • according to the law
  • according to tradition
  • according to reports
  • according to sources
  • according to the forecast
  • according to plan

Adverbs

  • strictly according to
  • roughly according to
  • exactly according to

Phrases

  • according to what I've heard
  • according to the latest information

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

The phrase 'according to' developed in Middle English from 'acordyng to,' which combined the present participle of 'accorden' (to agree, from Old French 'acorder' meaning to bring together or reconcile) with the preposition 'to.' The original meaning was 'in a way that agrees with,' and the sense of 'as stated by' emerged later as the phrase was used to attribute opinions and reports to their sources.