Do you keep using the word “according” in essays, reports, news articles, academic papers, or everyday writing? While it is one of the most common and useful words in formal English, repeating it can make your writing feel flat, mechanical, or overly formulaic.
The good news is that the best alternative depends on what you actually mean. You might be citing a source, expressing agreement, describing conformity, or introducing a proportional relationship.
This guide explains synonyms for “according” by meaning, tone, context, and usage. You will learn which alternatives work best in academic writing, professional communication, news reporting, legal contexts, and casual conversation.
Quick Answer: What Does “According” Mean?
“According” is most commonly used in the phrases “according to” (as stated by; in the opinion of) and “according as” (depending on). It can also appear in “according to plan” (as planned) and “according to” in the sense of conformity or agreement. Depending on context, alternatives include as stated by, as reported by, per, as per, in accordance with, in line with, based on, as claimed by, depending on, and consistent with.
Meaning, Tone, and Context
Simple Definition
“According” generally appears in these forms:
- According to: as stated or reported by someone or something
- According to: in a manner that agrees with something
- According to plan: as planned or expected
- According as: depending on (rare, formal)
- According to: in proportion to
Part of Speech
“According” is primarily used as a preposition within the phrase “according to.” It is also a present participle of the verb “accord.”
Examples:
- “According to the report, sales have increased.” (source citation)
- “Everything went according to plan.” (conformity)
- “The workers were paid according to their experience.” (proportion)
- “According to experts, the trend will continue.” (attribution)
Related Forms:
- Accord (noun): agreement or harmony
- Accord (verb): to give or grant
- Accordance (noun): conformity or agreement
- Accordingly (adverb): in a way that is appropriate
- According to (phrase): as stated by; in conformity with
Positive, Negative, or Neutral Tone
“According” is neutral. Its tone depends entirely on the context and content that follows.
Positive:
- “According to the results, the treatment was successful.”
Negative:
- “According to critics, the policy has failed.”
Neutral:
- “According to the schedule, the meeting starts at 3 PM.”
Formality Level
“According” is formal. It is standard in academic papers, news articles, legal documents, business reports, and formal speeches. In casual conversation, alternatives like “per” or “based on” are more common.
Common Use Cases
“According” commonly appears in:
- Source citation: according to the study, according to experts
- News reporting: according to officials, according to witnesses
- Academic writing: according to research, according to the data
- Legal writing: according to the contract, according to law
- Business communication: according to the report, according to plan
- Proportional relationships: according to merit, according to need
Important Word Forms
- According to (phrase): as stated by; in conformity with
- According as (conjunction, rare): depending on
- Accordingly (adverb): in a way that is appropriate
- Accordance (noun): conformity or agreement
- Accord (noun/verb): agreement; to give
When and How to Use “According”
Use “according” when you want to cite a source, describe conformity, or express a proportional relationship. Because the word is formal and formulaic, more varied alternatives can improve flow and reduce repetition.
Professional
“According to the quarterly report, profits have risen by 12%.”
This is standard in business communication.
Academic
“According to Smith (2020), the theory has three key components.”
This is standard in academic citation.
Legal
“According to the contract, either party may terminate with 30 days’ notice.”
This is appropriate in legal writing.
News
“According to police, the suspect was arrested early this morning.”
This is standard in news reporting.
Business
“Everything proceeded according to plan.”
This is common in business and project management.
Personal
“According to my mother, I should get more sleep.”
The phrase sounds natural in everyday conversation.
Another Word for “According”
There is no single perfect synonym because “according to” has several distinct uses.
- Source citation: as stated by, as reported by, as claimed by, per, as per
- Conformity: in accordance with, in line with, consistent with, in keeping with
- Proportion: in proportion to, based on, relative to, depending on
- Attribution: per, as cited by, as noted by, as mentioned by
- Plan/expectation: as planned, as expected, as scheduled
If you need one broad alternative, “per” works in most citation contexts, while “in accordance with” works for conformity. “Based on” works for foundational relationships.
When Not to Use “According”
“According” can become repetitive or awkward when overused, especially in academic and news writing.
Consider:
“According to the report, sales increased. According to experts, this trend will continue. According to analysts, the market is stable.”
This is repetitive. Better alternatives:
“The report showed that sales increased. Experts predict this trend will continue. Analysts describe the market as stable.”
Similarly, avoid using “according to” when you mean “based on” in a foundational sense.
Words Commonly Confused With “According”
According To vs. According As
According to is the standard phrase meaning “as stated by.” According as is a rare, formal conjunction meaning “depending on.”
Example:
“According to the report, sales rose.” (standard)
“According as the weather permits, we will proceed.” (rare, formal)
According To vs. In Accordance With
According to cites a source. In accordance with means in conformity with a rule or standard.
Example:
“According to the manual, the device needs regular maintenance.” (source)
“In accordance with company policy, all employees must attend training.” (conformity)
According To vs. Based On
According to cites a source. Based on indicates a foundation or basis.
Example:
“According to the study, the drug is effective.” (source)
“Based on the study, we can conclude the drug is effective.” (foundation)
According To vs. Per
Per is a more concise, often business-style alternative to “according to.”
Example:
“According to your instructions, I completed the task.” (standard)
“Per your instructions, I completed the task.” (concise, business)
According To vs. As Per
As per is common in business English but sometimes considered redundant.
Example:
“As per our conversation, I have attached the file.” (business)
“According to our conversation, I have attached the file.” (standard)
According To vs. In Line With
In line with means consistent with. According to cites a source.
Example:
“In line with company values, we prioritize sustainability.” (consistency)
“According to the CEO, sustainability is a priority.” (source)
Best Synonym by Context for “According”
| Context | Best Synonym | Why It Works | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal writing | As stated by, in accordance with | Precise and professional | As stated by the committee, the proposal was approved. |
| Academic writing | As reported by, per | Standard academic usage | As reported by Smith (2020), the results were significant. |
| Business/Professional | Per, as per, in line with | Concise and professional | Per your request, I have updated the file. |
| Legal writing | Pursuant to, in accordance with | Legally precise | Pursuant to the contract, notice must be given. |
| News reporting | As reported by, as claimed by | Standard news usage | As reported by witnesses, the suspect fled. |
| Conformity | In accordance with, consistent with | Emphasizes conformity | In accordance with policy, all requests must be documented. |
| Proportion | In proportion to, based on | Emphasizes proportion | Employees are paid in proportion to their experience. |
| Casual conversation | Based on, from what I hear | Natural and informal | Based on what I hear, the event was a success. |
| Attribution | As noted by, as mentioned by | Emphasizes attribution | As noted by the author, the theory is controversial. |
| Plan/expectation | As planned, as expected | Emphasizes conformity to plan | Everything went as planned. |
| According to plan | As scheduled, on track | Project management | The project is on track. |
| Opinion | In the view of, in the opinion of | Emphasizes opinion | In the view of experts, the trend will continue. |
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Start by identifying what kind of “according to” you are using.
- Source citation: as stated by, as reported by, per, as claimed by
- Conformity: in accordance with, in line with, consistent with
- Proportion: in proportion to, based on, relative to
- Attribution: per, as cited by, as noted by
- Plan/expectation: as planned, as expected, as scheduled
10 Key Synonyms for “According”
The table below includes accurate alternatives with clear meanings and usage contexts.
| Synonym | Simple Meaning | Best Used For | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| As stated by | As said by | Formal citation | As stated by the CEO, the company is expanding. |
| As reported by | As documented by | News, academic | As reported by the study, the results were positive. |
| Per | According to | Business, concise | Per your request, I have updated the file. |
| As per | According to | Business, formal | As per our conversation, here is the summary. |
| In accordance with | In conformity with | Legal, formal | In accordance with policy, all requests must be documented. |
| In line with | Consistent with | Business, strategic | In line with our values, we prioritize sustainability. |
| Based on | Founded on | General, analytical | Based on the data, we can conclude the trend is real. |
| As claimed by | As asserted by | News, skeptical | As claimed by the witness, the suspect fled the scene. |
| Depending on | Varying according to | Conditional | Depending on the weather, we may cancel the event. |
| Consistent with | In agreement with | Formal, analytical | The findings are consistent with previous research. |
Synonym Groups and Usage Differences
Professional vs. Personal Synonyms
Professional writing benefits from specific terms such as per, as per, in accordance with, and in line with.
Personal communication often uses based on, from what I hear, or according to itself.
Compare:
“Based on what I hear, the event was great.” (personal)
“Per the report, the event was a success.” (professional)
Formal vs. Conversational Synonyms
According to works in both formal and conversational English, though it is more common in formal contexts.
Formal alternatives: as stated by, in accordance with, pursuant to, per
Conversational alternatives: based on, from what I hear
Examples:
“Pursuant to the contract, notice must be given.” (formal, legal)
“Based on what she said, we should wait.” (conversational)
Academic Synonyms
Academic writing should distinguish between according to (source citation), based on (foundation), and consistent with (agreement).
For example:
“According to Smith (2020), the theory has three components.”
“Based on the data, we can draw several conclusions.”
“The findings are consistent with previous research.”
Professional and Business Synonyms
Business writing often benefits from phrases such as per, as per, in line with, and in accordance with.
Instead of:
“According to your instructions, I completed the task.”
Consider:
“Per your instructions, I completed the task.”
Creative or Literary Synonyms
Creative writing rarely uses “according to” because it is formal and formulaic. Instead, use narrative phrasing.
For example:
“The old sailor claimed the sea was haunted.” (instead of “According to the old sailor, the sea was haunted.”)
Slang or Modern Synonyms
From what I hear is casual for “according to.”
Word is is slang for “according to rumors.”
Sources say is common in informal news.
Examples:
“From what I hear, the party was amazing.” (casual)
“Word is, they’re getting married.” (slang)
Strongest vs. Weaker Synonyms
“According to” alternatives vary in formality:
Weaker/Informal: from what I hear, word is
Moderate: according to, based on
Stronger/Formal: per, as stated by, in accordance with, pursuant to
Emotional vs. Neutral Synonyms
“According to” is neutral. Alternatives can be more formal or more casual but remain neutral in tone.
Formal alternatives: pursuant to, in accordance with
Neutral alternatives: according to, per, based on
Antonyms of “According”
“According to” does not have exact antonyms, but depending on context, contrasts include:
| Antonym | Context | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contrary to | Source/conformity | Opposite to | Contrary to reports, the event was canceled. |
| Regardless of | Conformity | Without considering | Regardless of the rules, he proceeded. |
| Despite | Conformity | In spite of | Despite the plan, the event was delayed. |
| In conflict with | Conformity | Not in agreement | The decision was in conflict with policy. |
| Inconsistent with | Conformity | Not consistent | The findings are inconsistent with the theory. |
Comparison: “According” vs. Similar Words
According To vs. Based On
Main difference: According to cites a source. Based on indicates a foundation or basis.
Examples:
“According to the study, the drug is effective.” (source)
“Based on the study, we can conclude the drug is effective.” (foundation)
According To vs. In Accordance With
Main difference: According to cites a source. In accordance with means in conformity with a rule or standard.
Examples:
“According to the manual, the device needs maintenance.” (source)
“In accordance with company policy, all employees must attend training.” (conformity)
According To vs. Per
Main difference: Per is a more concise, often business-style alternative to “according to.”
Examples:
“According to your instructions, I completed the task.” (standard)
“Per your instructions, I completed the task.” (concise, business)
According To vs. As Per
Main difference: As per is common in business English but sometimes considered redundant.
Examples:
“As per our conversation, I have attached the file.” (business)
“According to our conversation, I have attached the file.” (standard)
According To vs. In Line With
Main difference: In line with means consistent with. According to cites a source.
Examples:
“In line with company values, we prioritize sustainability.” (consistency)
“According to the CEO, sustainability is a priority.” (source)
According To vs. Consistent With
Main difference: Consistent with means in agreement with. According to cites a source.
Examples:
“The findings are consistent with previous research.” (agreement)
“According to the findings, the trend is real.” (source)
Common Phrases and Expressions with “According”
1. According to
Meaning:
As stated by; in the opinion of.
Example:
“According to the report, sales have increased.”
2. According to plan
Meaning:
As planned or expected.
Example:
“Everything went according to plan.”
3. According to schedule
Meaning:
As scheduled.
Example:
“The project is proceeding according to schedule.”
4. According to law
Meaning:
As required by law.
Example:
“According to law, all vehicles must be registered.”
5. According to experts
Meaning:
As stated by experts.
Example:
“According to experts, the trend will continue.”
6. According to sources
Meaning:
As reported by unnamed sources.
Example:
“According to sources, the deal is nearly complete.”
7. According to my understanding
Meaning:
Based on what I understand.
Example:
“According to my understanding, the deadline is Friday.”
8. According to the contract
Meaning:
As stated in the contract.
Example:
“According to the contract, either party may terminate with notice.”
9. According to need
Meaning:
Based on necessity.
Example:
“Resources were distributed according to need.”
10. According to merit
Meaning:
Based on deservingness.
Example:
“Promotions are given according to merit.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Overusing “according to” in writing
Repetition can make writing feel mechanical. Use alternatives such as as stated by, per, based on, and in line with.
Repetitive: “According to the report… According to experts… According to analysts…”
Improved: “The report showed… Experts predict… Analysts describe…”
2. Confusing “according to” with “based on”
According to cites a source. Based on indicates a foundation.
Incorrect: “According to the data, we can conclude…” (if using data as foundation)
Correct: “Based on the data, we can conclude…”
3. Using “according to” for opinions without attribution
According to should cite a specific source.
Vague: “According to many, the policy is flawed.”
Clear: “According to critics, the policy is flawed.”
4. Using “according to” when “in accordance with” is needed
According to cites a source. In accordance with means conformity.
Incorrect: “According to company policy, all employees must attend.”
Correct: “In accordance with company policy, all employees must attend.”
5. Choosing a synonym that changes the meaning
Do not replace “according to” with based on unless you mean foundation.
Do not replace “according to” with in line with unless you mean consistency.
FAQs
What is the best synonym for “according to”?
The best synonym depends on context. As stated by works for source citation, per for business contexts, in accordance with for conformity, based on for foundation, and in line with for consistency.
What is a formal synonym for “according to”?
As stated by, in accordance with, pursuant to, and per are formal synonyms.
What is an informal synonym for “according to”?
Based on, from what I hear, and word is are common informal alternatives.
What is another word for “according to” in academic writing?
As reported by, as noted by, per, and based on work well in academic writing.
What is the difference between “according to” and “based on”?
According to cites a source. Based on indicates a foundation or basis.
What is the opposite of “according to”?
Depending on context, opposites include contrary to, regardless of, despite, and inconsistent with.
Can “according to” always be replaced?
No. “According to” is essential for citing sources and expressing conformity. Replace it only when a more precise or appropriate alternative improves clarity.
Conclusion
“According” is a formal and versatile word that appears primarily in the phrase “according to.” It can cite sources, express conformity, describe proportion, or indicate attribution. The best synonym depends on what you actually mean.
Choose as stated by for source citation, per for business contexts, in accordance with for conformity, based on for foundation, and in line with for consistency.
Most importantly, do not replace “according” simply to avoid repetition. First identify what function it is serving—citing, conforming, or attributing—then choose the alternative that communicates that idea most clearly.
For academic, professional, and legal writing, precision is usually more valuable than vocabulary variety. A specific term such as as reported by, pursuant to, in accordance with, or based on can tell readers much more than the broad phrase according to.
Before publishing a vocabulary guide, verify definitions and usage with trusted dictionaries such as Cambridge, Oxford, Merriam-Webster, Collins, or Britannica. This helps ensure that each alternative accurately matches its intended meaning and context.
The practical takeaway is simple: when “according to” feels repetitive or formulaic, ask yourself what kind of citation, conformity, or foundation you are actually expressing. Then use the most precise word available.
