What is the difference between 'according to' and 'in accordance with'?

'According to' is used to cite a source of information ('According to the forecast, it will rain'). 'In accordance with' is more formal and means 'in conformity/compliance with' a rule, law, or agreement ('In accordance with company policy, you must wear a badge').

Is 'accordance' used on its own, or only in the phrase 'in accordance with'?

It is almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in accordance with'. Standalone use (e.g., 'There was accordance among the members') is grammatically possible but very rare and stylistically awkward; 'agreement' or 'accord' would be preferred.

Can I use 'in accordance to'?

No, this is a common error. The correct prepositional phrase is always 'in accordance with'. 'In accordance to' is incorrect.

What part of speech is 'accordance'?

It is a noun. The related verb is 'accord', the adjective is 'accordant', and the adverb is 'accordingly'.

accordance

UK/əˈkɔːdns/US/əˈkɔːrdns/

Formal

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A state of agreement, conformity, or compliance; the act of granting or giving.

Used to denote a situation where something is done following specific rules, principles, or a particular agreement. Also used in a formal or legal sense for official approval or authorization.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily a formal, abstract noun. Most commonly found in the phrase 'in accordance with'. Its semantic field relates to agreement, conformity, and harmony.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in core meaning or usage. 'In accordance with' is standard in both. Spelling and pronunciation differ.

Connotations

Equally formal and official in both varieties.

Frequency

Slightly more frequent in British legal and administrative texts, but the difference is marginal.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

in accordance withstrict accordancefull accordance

medium

general accordancemutual accordanceaccordance with the law

weak

close accordancecomplete accordanceperfect accordance

Grammar

Valency Patterns

N + in accordance with + Nbe + in + accordance + withact/operate/behave + in accordance with

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

accordconsonanceobservance

Neutral

agreementconformitycompliance

Weak

harmonycongruencecorrespondence

Vocabulary

Antonyms

disagreementcontradictionviolationdeviationconflict

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“In accordance with (something)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Common in contracts, policies, and reports: 'Procedures must be carried out in accordance with company policy.'

Academic

Used in research papers and formal writing to denote conformity with methodology or standards: 'The experiment was conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines.'

Everyday

Rare in casual conversation. May appear in formal announcements: 'The event was cancelled in accordance with government advice.'

Technical

Prevalent in legal, regulatory, and compliance documents: 'Products are certified in accordance with EU safety standards.'

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The parties shall accord the rights in accordance with the treaty.

American English

The court accorded him the privilege in accordance with precedent.

adverb

British English

The teams worked accordingly to meet the deadline.

American English

We have updated the plan and will proceed accordingly.

adjective

British English

The accordant principles were applied.

American English

Their views were accordant with the findings.

Examples

By CEFR Level

Please act in accordance with the school rules.
The decision was made in accordance with her wishes.

The building was constructed in strict accordance with safety regulations.
His actions were not in accordance with the terms of his contract.

The research methodology was meticulously designed in accordance with prevailing academic standards.
The treaty provisions were implemented in full accordance with the agreed timetable.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'accord' (agreement) + 'dance'. An agreement is reached when people are 'in accordance' - they move in step together.

Conceptual Metaphor

AGREEMENT IS ALIGNMENT / CONFORMITY IS FOLLOWING A PATH (e.g., 'in accordance with the rules' implies moving along a prescribed track).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with 'соглашение' (agreement/treaty) which is more concrete. 'Accordance' is more abstract, often 'в соответствии с'. Avoid direct translation of 'accordance' as 'аккорд' (musical chord).

Common Mistakes

Using 'according' without 'with' (e.g., 'in according to' is wrong). Confusing 'in accordance with' (formal, rule-based) with 'according to' (neutral, source-based). Overusing in informal contexts where 'following' or 'as per' would suffice.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The software update must be installed the manufacturer's instructions to avoid errors.

Multiple Choice

Which phrase is the most formal and suitable for a legal document?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: 'According to' is used to cite a source of information ('According to the forecast, it will rain'). 'In accordance with' is more formal and means 'in conformity/compliance with' a rule, law, or agreement ('In accordance with company policy, you must wear a badge').
: It is almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in accordance with'. Standalone use (e.g., 'There was accordance among the members') is grammatically possible but very rare and stylistically awkward; 'agreement' or 'accord' would be preferred.
: No, this is a common error. The correct prepositional phrase is always 'in accordance with'. 'In accordance to' is incorrect.
: It is a noun. The related verb is 'accord', the adjective is 'accordant', and the adverb is 'accordingly'.

Explore

Related Words

accord conformity consonance