"according to" vs "as per"

Question

"according to" vs "as per"

Both 'according to' and 'as per' are correct phrases used to introduce a source of information or a standard. 'According to' is more commonly used in everyday English, while 'as per' is more formal and often used in legal or business contexts.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Use "according to" when you want to credit someone else's work or ideas.

Tip: Don't use "according to" to cite your own opinions. One possible phrase to use in this situation is "in my opinion."

Explanation provided by a TextRanch English expert

Some examples from our editors:

According to our professor, we have to write our term papers in APA format.
According to the New York Times, the defendant was convicted of seven felonies.
According to his biography, he attended Yale.

Some alternatives from our editors:

as stated by

Use 'as per' in formal contexts, such as legal or business documents, to indicate accordance with a standard or rule.

Examples:

As per the contract, payment is due by the end of the month.
As per company policy, all employees must attend the training session.
As per the instructions, please submit your report by Friday.
As per the regulations, smoking is prohibited in this area.
As per the agreement, the project deadline has been extended.

Alternatives:

according to
in accordance with
following
in compliance with
pursuant to

Answer 1

according to

This is correct

Answer 2

as per

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in everyday English.

"according to" vs "as per"

according to

as per

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