According to – Meaning and Examples

Have you ever said, “The weather app says it’ll rain tomorrow,” or “My teacher says the test is on Friday”? In English, you can express that more formally by saying, “According to the weather app…” or “According to my teacher…” This useful phrase is used to show where information comes from—whether it’s a person, a book, a report, or a rule.

What Does “According to” Mean?

“According to” means “as stated by” or “based on the information from.” It introduces the source of a fact, opinion, or instruction. Think of it like giving credit: you’re not claiming the idea is yours—you’re saying someone or something else said it. The phrase isn’t about agreement; it’s about attribution.

When to Use It

Use this phrase in both casual and formal English when you want to:
• Cite a person (“According to Sarah, the meeting is at 3.”)
• Reference a book, news source, or website (“According to the news, flights are delayed.”)
• Mention rules or instructions (“According to the manual, you should charge it for 4 hours.”)
It’s common in writing, conversations, presentations, and academic work—and it makes your English sound clear and credible.

Example Sentences

• According to the schedule, the train arrives at 6:15 p.m.
• According to my doctor, I need more sleep.
• According to the law, you must wear a helmet while biking.
• According to this recipe, we need two cups of flour.

Mini Dialogue

Alex: “How do you know the store is closed today?”

Jamie: “According to their website, they’re closed on Mondays.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t use “according to” to express your own opinion. It must refer to an external source—not you.

❌ Don’t say: “According to me, pizza is the best food.” (Use “I think…” instead.)
✅ Do say: “According to the chef, the secret is in the sauce.”

Final Note

Now you can use “according to” to share information clearly and responsibly! It’s a small phrase that adds big credibility to your English. Keep using it—and always give credit where it’s due.