according to
according to: in agreement with a source, rule, report, plan, or standard.
- The core idea is agreement: the statement or action matches a source, rule, plan, or standard.
- Before a source, it means as stated by: according to the report / according to my doctor.
- Before a rule, plan, or standard, it means following it: according to policy / according to schedule.
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Examples
Abstract examples
According to the doctor, he should rest for a week.
According to school policy, phones must stay in your bag.
According to the forecast, rain will arrive tonight.
Related prepositions
Key differences
According to is not about the topic, not about the cause, and it is usually not your personal opinion. It simply tells you which external source, plan, rule, or standard the statement agrees with.
In my opinion is for your own view. According to usually points to an external source, not your personal opinion.
About introduces the topic. According to introduces the source, basis, plan, or standard.
Due to introduces a cause or reason. According to introduces a source, rule, plan, or standard.
Quick check questions (decision tree)
Is the next phrase a source, such as a report, news item, doctor, map, data, or email?
Yes -> use according to. It means as stated by / based on that source.
Is the next phrase a plan, rule, policy, contract, standard, or tradition?
Yes -> use according to. It means following that plan, rule, or standard.
Are you expressing your own personal opinion?
Yes -> use in my opinion / I think, not according to me.
Are you only naming the topic?
Yes -> use about, not according to.
Are you explaining the cause or reason?
Yes -> use due to / because of, not according to.
Common collocations
According to a source
According to a rule or plan
Useful sentence frames
Common mistakes
Avoid: According to me, this movie is boring.
Use: In my opinion, this movie is boring.
Reason: According to usually introduces an external source or rule, not your personal opinion.
Avoid: This book is according to space travel.
Use: This book is about space travel.
Reason: About introduces the topic. According to introduces the source or basis.
Avoid: We arrived according to 6 p.m.
Use: We arrived at 6 p.m. / We arrived according to schedule.
Reason: According to cannot simply replace a time preposition. It needs a source, rule, or plan.
Mini quiz
Question 1
___ the weather app, it will snow tonight.
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Question 2
Everything went ___ plan.
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Question 3
___ the traffic report, the bridge is closed.
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Quick FAQ
What is the core idea of according to?+
It means that a statement or action is in agreement with a source, rule, plan, or standard.
Can according to be used with people?+
Yes. You can say according to my teacher, according to the doctor, or according to witnesses.
Can it be used with plans or rules?+
Yes. According to plan, according to policy, and according to the rules are all common.
Why is according to me often avoided?+
Because English normally uses according to for external sources, not for your own opinion.
What is the difference between according to and about?+
About tells you what the topic is. According to tells you where the information comes from or what rule it follows.