according to
according to — preposition
1. used when giving information that comes from a particular person, document, repo
used when giving information that comes from a particular person, document, report, or other source — showing where the facts or opinions come from
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.
According to company policy, all visitors must sign in at the front desk.
According to Mei-Lin, the last train to Tainan departs at ten fifteen.
According to our records, your account was set up in March of last year.
- as stated by
more formal, used in legal or official contexts
- as reported by
specific to news and media contexts
- in the words of
used for direct quotations from a specific speaker
文法句型
according to + noun phrase
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. in a way that follows a rule, system, standard, or arrangement — showing the bas
in a way that follows a rule, system, standard, or arrangement — showing the basis on which something is decided, organized, or judged
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.
The books on the shelf are arranged according to the author's last name.
Guests were seated at the dinner table according to their rank and role in the organization.
The price of the tour changes according to the season and the number of people in the group.
- 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
- regardless of
opposite logic — not affected by a factor
- contrary to
opposite — going against a rule or expectation
文法句型
according to + noun phrase
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
3. happening or developing exactly as intended or expected — used only in the fixed
happening or developing exactly as intended or expected — used only in the fixed expression 'go according to plan' or similar structures
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.
The construction crew finished the work exactly according to plan and under budget.
Diego checked each delivery against the list to make sure everything was going according to plan.
- as intended
works in more sentence structures than the fixed expression
- on schedule
specific to timing, not outcomes in general
- without a hitch
informal; suggests smoothness and no problems
- off track
informal opposite — not proceeding as planned
文法句型
go + according to plan
work out + according to plan
用法筆記
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?).