25 Other Ways to Say ‘According to’ (With Examples)

25 Other Ways to Say ‘According to’ (With Examples) helps you find natural alternatives that improve writing flow, clarity, and communication.

Finding the right words to express ideas makes your message more thoughtful, natural, and caring. In an email, essay, article, or academic paper, different ways to say the same thing can make writing fresh and interesting. According to shares information, opinions, and facts from a source, but repeating the same expression may feel repetitive, predictable, mechanical, and less engaging for readers. From my real writing projects, I have seen that the right expression makes a huge difference.

In everyday conversations, academic writing, professional communication, and storytelling, alternative phrases for “according to” can help you adjust tone for professional, friendly, or casual situations. They help you attribute information to expertise or a viewpoint, present ideas with care, and connect with your audience. This easy guide style offers clear meanings, easy examples, tone descriptions, and best-use scenarios. As a writer who edits content daily, I confidently share these alternatives because repeating one word often weakens writing, while sentence variety, accuracy, credibility, and simple human English make content more engaging, practical, and beginner-friendly.

Table of Contents

What Does “According to” Mean?

“According to” means that information comes from a particular person, source, report, study, document, or viewpoint. We use it when we want to show where a statement, fact, opinion, or piece of information originated.

For example, you might say, “According to the teacher, the test will begin tomorrow.” This shows that the information came from the teacher.

The phrase is common in conversation, academic writing, journalism, professional communication, reports, and everyday speech.

When to Use “According to”

Use “according to” when you want to identify the source of information without presenting it as your own personal claim.

It works well when referring to people, experts, reports, studies, statistics, books, organizations, documents, or official sources.

For example, you can say, “According to the report, customer satisfaction improved this year.” The phrase clearly tells readers where the information came from.

It is especially useful in professional writing, academic work, news articles, presentations, emails, and everyday conversations.

Benefits of Using “According to”

Using “according to” has several benefits. It helps you credit your source, separate your own ideas from someone else’s information, and make your statements clearer.

It can also make your writing sound more objective and trustworthy because readers understand that the information comes from another source.

The phrase is also simple and widely understood, making it suitable for both formal and casual communication.

Is It Professional or Polite to Say “According to”?

Yes, “according to” is professional, polite, and grammatically correct. It is commonly used in business emails, academic papers, reports, presentations, journalism, and formal conversations.

However, repeating the same phrase too often can make your writing feel plain or repetitive. Using alternatives such as “as reported by,” “as noted by,” “as documented by,” or “in the view of” can make your writing more varied.

The best alternative depends on what kind of information you are presenting and how formal your communication needs to be.

25 Alternatives to “According to”

Here is the complete list of 25 alternatives and related expressions you can use instead of “According to”:

As Stated By
As Reported By
In the Words of
As Noted By
As Mentioned By
As Described By
Based On
In Accordance With
In Line With
On the Authority of
Per
As Indicated By
As Observed By
As Outlined By
As Explained By
As Suggested By
As Revealed By
As Documented By
As Recorded By
As Cited By
In the View of
In the Opinion of
From the Perspective of
As Per
In Reference to

1. As Stated By

Meaning: “As stated by” means that information or an opinion was directly expressed by a particular person or source.

Tone: Formal, clear, and authoritative.

Explanation: This expression works well when you want to connect a specific statement directly to its original speaker, writer, authority, or source.

Best Use: Use “as stated by” in reports, academic writing, official documents, professional communication, and formal explanations.

Examples:

As stated by the manager, all employees must complete training this week.
As stated by the doctor, regular exercise can improve overall health.
As stated by the report, sales increased significantly during December.
As stated by our teacher, the assignment requires careful research and planning.
As stated by the witness, the meeting ended peacefully that afternoon.

2. As Reported By

Meaning: “As reported by” means that information was provided or published by a particular source.

Tone: Professional, factual, and objective.

Explanation: This phrase is useful when presenting information gathered from news organizations, reports, researchers, witnesses, or other reliable sources.

Best Use: Use it in news writing, journalism, reports, research papers, and professional articles.

Examples:

As reported by the newspaper, the company opened three new offices.
As reported by researchers, sleep plays an important role in memory.
As reported by local officials, the roads reopened yesterday morning.
As reported by the survey, most customers preferred the newer design.
As reported by witnesses, the event remained calm throughout the evening.

3. In the Words of

Meaning: “In the words of” introduces an idea or statement using someone else’s own expression or viewpoint.

Tone: Personal, respectful, and slightly literary.

Explanation: This expression is especially effective when someone’s exact perspective, memorable statement, or distinctive way of expressing an idea deserves attention.

Best Use: Use it when discussing speakers, writers, leaders, authors, experts, or memorable quotations.

Examples:

In the words of my mentor, patience often creates better decisions.
In the words of the author, kindness can change difficult moments.
In the words of our coach, teamwork makes challenging goals achievable.
In the words of the speaker, courage begins with one small decision.
In the words of her father, honesty always builds stronger relationships.

4. As Noted By

Meaning: “As noted by” means that someone has pointed out, observed, or mentioned particular information.

Tone: Professional, thoughtful, and informative.

Explanation: This phrase gently directs attention toward an important observation while giving proper credit to the person who originally identified it.

Best Use: Use it in reports, essays, research, professional writing, and thoughtful discussions.

Examples:

As noted by the researcher, small changes can produce meaningful results.
As noted by our manager, communication remains essential for successful teamwork.
As noted by the teacher, practice helps students build confidence.
As noted by the study, younger participants showed stronger preferences.
As noted by the author, meaningful change usually requires consistent effort.

5. As Mentioned By

Meaning: “As mentioned by” means that a particular person or source previously referred to the information.

Tone: Neutral, polite, and conversational.

Explanation: This expression is useful when referring back to information someone has already shared, especially during ongoing conversations or written discussions.

Best Use: Use it in emails, meetings, conversations, articles, reports, and professional discussions.

Examples:

As mentioned by Sarah, the meeting will begin after lunch.
As mentioned by our teacher, the deadline has been extended.
As mentioned by the client, several changes are still needed.
As mentioned by the manager, everyone should review the proposal.
As mentioned by John, the project requires additional financial support.

6. As Described By

Meaning: “As described by” means that something is being explained using another person’s description.

Tone: Descriptive, professional, and informative.

Explanation: This phrase works well when you want to present someone else’s description of an event, experience, situation, object, or idea.

Best Use: Use it in stories, reports, reviews, research, interviews, and descriptive writing.

Examples:

As described by the witness, the building looked completely abandoned.
As described by the author, the village felt peaceful and welcoming.
As described by customers, the service was friendly and efficient.
As described by the guide, the trail becomes difficult after sunset.
As described by researchers, the process requires careful preparation beforehand.

7. Based On

Meaning: “Based on” means that an idea, conclusion, or statement relies on particular information or evidence.

Tone: Neutral, analytical, and professional.

Explanation: Unlike some direct alternatives, this phrase focuses on the evidence or information behind a conclusion rather than simply naming its source.

Best Use: Use it for decisions, conclusions, analyses, recommendations, predictions, and evidence-based statements.

Examples:

Based on the report, the company should reconsider its current strategy.
Based on recent feedback, customers want simpler payment options.
Based on the evidence, investigators changed their original conclusion.
Based on her experience, Maria recommended arriving early.
Based on these results, the team decided to continue testing.

8. In Accordance With

Meaning: “In accordance with” means that something follows a rule, instruction, policy, standard, or official requirement.

Tone: Very formal, professional, and authoritative.

Explanation: This expression emphasizes following established rules or requirements, rather than simply reporting information from someone’s personal statement or opinion.

Best Use: Use it in legal documents, policies, contracts, official notices, and formal business communication.

Examples:

In accordance with company policy, employees must submit requests early.
In accordance with regulations, all documents require proper signatures.
In accordance with the agreement, payment must arrive within thirty days.
In accordance with school rules, students should remain respectful.
In accordance with safety guidelines, protective equipment must be worn.

9. In Line With

Meaning: “In line with” means that something agrees with or matches a particular idea, standard, policy, or expectation.

Tone: Professional, modern, and natural.

Explanation: This expression is useful for showing that an action, decision, or result matches previously established expectations, goals, or standards.

Best Use: Use it in business writing, workplace communication, planning, reports, and everyday professional conversations.

Examples:

In line with company goals, the team reduced unnecessary expenses.
In line with customer feedback, we simplified the checkout process.
In line with expectations, attendance increased during the final month.
In line with school policy, students received written warnings.
In line with recent trends, the business expanded its online services.

10. On the Authority of

Meaning: “On the authority of” means that information or action is supported by an official authority or recognized source.

Tone: Formal, authoritative, and serious.

Explanation: This expression gives strong importance to the credibility of the person, organization, or official source providing the information.

Best Use: Use it in formal announcements, legal writing, historical writing, official statements, and authoritative reports.

Examples:

On the authority of the court, the decision became officially binding.
On the authority of the director, the project received approval.
On the authority of the committee, the proposal was accepted.
On the authority of the principal, classes were canceled immediately.
On the authority of officials, residents received evacuation instructions.

11. Per

Meaning: “Per” means “according to” or “as stated by”, especially when referring to instructions, rules, agreements, or information.

Tone: Concise, professional, and formal.

Explanation: This short expression is efficient when you need to reference an established instruction, agreement, policy, document, or previously communicated requirement.

Best Use: Use it in business emails, workplace documents, schedules, policies, and professional communication.

Examples:

Per the agreement, both parties must approve the final changes.
Per company policy, employees should report issues immediately.
Per your request, I attached the revised document today.
Per the schedule, the presentation begins at ten tomorrow.
Per our conversation, I will send the updated details later.

12. As Indicated By

Meaning: “As indicated by” means that information is shown, suggested, or demonstrated by evidence or a particular source.

Tone: Formal, analytical, and objective.

Explanation: This phrase works particularly well when evidence, statistics, signs, or findings clearly point toward a specific conclusion or observation.

Best Use: Use it in research papers, reports, statistics, analysis, presentations, and professional writing.

Examples:

As indicated by the survey, customer satisfaction improved this quarter.
As indicated by the results, additional training may be necessary.
As indicated by recent data, demand continues to increase.
As indicated by the chart, sales reached their highest level.
As indicated by the evidence, the original plan needs revision.

13. As Observed By

Meaning: “As observed by” means that something was noticed or identified through someone’s observation.

Tone: Professional, thoughtful, and analytical.

Explanation: This phrase emphasizes an individual’s observation, making it useful when discussing behavior, patterns, changes, events, or noticeable developments.

Best Use: Use it in research, reports, observations, scientific writing, professional discussions, and formal descriptions.

Examples:

As observed by the teacher, students became more engaged after practice.
As observed by researchers, the animals changed their behavior.
As observed by the manager, teamwork improved significantly this month.
As observed by visitors, the park remained unusually quiet.
As observed by doctors, patients responded positively to treatment.

14. As Outlined By

Meaning: “As outlined by” means that information follows or refers to details previously presented by someone.

Tone: Formal, organized, and professional.

Explanation: This expression is helpful when referring to a plan, process, strategy, proposal, report, or set of previously explained details.

Best Use: Use it in business plans, project documents, reports, presentations, and professional communication.

Examples:

As outlined by the manager, the project has three main stages.
As outlined by the proposal, costs will remain within budget.
As outlined by the teacher, students must complete five tasks.
As outlined by the report, several improvements are recommended.
As outlined by the plan, construction should begin next month.

Read More: 25 Other Ways to Say ‘Additionally’ (With Examples)

15. As Explained By

Meaning: “As explained by” means that information comes from someone’s explanation of a subject, situation, or process.

Tone: Clear, respectful, and informative.

Explanation: This phrase is useful when another person’s explanation helps readers understand why something happened or how a particular process works.

Best Use: Use it in educational writing, reports, interviews, discussions, presentations, and explanatory articles.

Examples:

As explained by the teacher, the process requires several careful steps.
As explained by the expert, the problem has several causes.
As explained by the guide, visitors should follow marked paths.
As explained by the manager, the changes will improve efficiency.
As explained by the author, the character struggled with loneliness.

16. As Suggested By

Meaning: “As suggested by” means that an idea, possibility, or recommendation comes from someone or something.

Tone: Neutral, thoughtful, and analytical.

Explanation: This expression works well when evidence, research, or another person’s recommendation points toward a possible action, explanation, or conclusion.

Best Use: Use it in research, recommendations, reports, academic writing, discussions, and professional advice.

Examples:

As suggested by the study, regular breaks may improve concentration.
As suggested by our consultant, the company should simplify operations.
As suggested by the results, more research is needed.
As suggested by the teacher, students should review their notes.
As suggested by customers, we added several new payment options.

17. As Revealed By

Meaning: “As revealed by” means that information became known through evidence, research, investigation, or a particular source.

Tone: Formal, investigative, and informative.

Explanation: This expression adds emphasis when new information has been discovered, uncovered, or made clear through research or investigation.

Best Use: Use it in investigative writing, reports, studies, news articles, research, and formal analysis.

Examples:

As revealed by the investigation, several records contained serious errors.
As revealed by the study, participants preferred simpler instructions.
As revealed by recent data, online purchases increased significantly.
As revealed by the report, expenses exceeded the original budget.
As revealed by researchers, the process takes longer than expected.

18. As Documented By

Meaning: “As documented by” means that information is supported by written records, evidence, files, or official documentation.

Tone: Formal, factual, and authoritative.

Explanation: This phrase is especially strong when you need to show that information can be verified through records, documents, reports, or written evidence.

Best Use: Use it in legal writing, historical research, professional reports, audits, academic work, and official records.

Examples:

As documented by the report, several problems occurred during construction.
As documented by researchers, the experiment produced consistent results.
As documented by company records, payments were completed on time.
As documented by historical sources, the town expanded rapidly.
As documented by the committee, several recommendations were approved.

19. As Recorded By

Meaning: “As recorded by” means that information was officially written, stored, measured, or preserved by a source.

Tone: Formal, factual, and precise.

Explanation: This phrase is useful when information comes from records, measurements, official documents, databases, minutes, or historical accounts.

Best Use: Use it in official reports, statistics, historical writing, meeting records, research, and professional documents.

Examples:

As recorded by the office, attendance reached ninety percent.
As recorded by officials, temperatures remained unusually high.
As recorded by the system, your payment arrived yesterday.
As recorded by historians, the city grew rapidly afterward.
As recorded by the committee, everyone supported the proposal.

20. As Cited By

Meaning: “As cited by” means that a person, writer, or source has referred to another source for supporting information.

Tone: Academic, formal, and research-focused.

Explanation: This expression is useful when connecting a statement to another source, especially when discussing research, publications, studies, or scholarly arguments.

Best Use: Use it in academic writing, research papers, scholarly articles, essays, and formal reports.

Examples:

As cited by the researcher, earlier studies reached similar conclusions.
As cited by the author, several experts support this argument.
As cited by the report, previous findings remain relevant today.
As cited by the professor, the study requires further investigation.
As cited by the article, reliable sources support this conclusion.

21. In the View of

Meaning: “In the view of” means that something represents the opinion, judgment, or perspective of someone.

Tone: Formal, respectful, and thoughtful.

Explanation: This phrase allows you to present another person’s viewpoint without suggesting that the opinion necessarily represents your own personal belief.

Best Use: Use it in essays, debates, formal discussions, academic writing, editorials, and professional analysis.

Examples:

In the view of the director, teamwork should remain the priority.
In the view of experts, prevention is better than expensive repairs.
In the view of many teachers, practice improves student confidence.
In the view of the author, kindness creates lasting connections.
In the view of customers, the service needs improvement.

22. In the Opinion of

Meaning: “In the opinion of” means that a statement reflects someone’s personal judgment, belief, or viewpoint.

Tone: Polite, formal, and respectful.

Explanation: This expression clearly separates someone’s personal judgment from objective facts, helping readers understand that the statement represents a particular viewpoint.

Best Use: Use it when discussing opinions, judgments, preferences, debates, reviews, essays, and personal viewpoints.

Examples:

In the opinion of the manager, the proposal needs more detail.
In the opinion of many readers, the ending felt satisfying.
In the opinion of experts, the approach remains highly effective.
In the opinion of my teacher, clarity matters most.
In the opinion of customers, the new design looks better.

23. From the Perspective of

Meaning: “From the perspective of” means considering something from a particular person’s, group’s, or field’s point of view.

Tone: Thoughtful, analytical, and professional.

Explanation: This phrase encourages readers to consider an issue through another person’s experience, position, priorities, or way of understanding it.

Best Use: Use it in essays, discussions, research, business analysis, social topics, and thoughtful conversations.

Examples:

From the perspective of students, shorter lessons may feel more manageable.
From the perspective of customers, simple instructions are extremely helpful.
From the perspective of managers, communication prevents unnecessary workplace problems.
From the perspective of parents, safety remains the highest priority.
From the perspective of employees, flexible schedules can improve productivity.

24. As Per

Meaning: “As per” means in accordance with, based on, or following particular information or instructions.

Tone: Professional, concise, and formal.

Explanation: This expression is commonly used to connect an action or statement with previously given instructions, requests, policies, or agreements.

Best Use: Use it in business emails, workplace communication, instructions, schedules, reports, and formal correspondence.

Examples:

As per your request, I have attached the updated document.
As per company policy, employees must complete this training.
As per our agreement, payment will arrive next Friday.
As per the schedule, the meeting starts at nine.
As per your instructions, we reviewed every document carefully.

25. In Reference to

Meaning: “In reference to” means concerning, relating to, or referring to a particular subject, statement, or source.

Tone: Formal, professional, and precise.

Explanation: This phrase works well when connecting your message to a specific topic, previous conversation, document, request, or piece of information.

Best Use: Use it in formal emails, business letters, professional communication, reports, and official correspondence.

Examples:

In reference to your email, we have reviewed the requested changes.
In reference to the report, several recommendations require immediate attention.
In reference to your question, the answer remains unchanged.
In reference to our meeting, I prepared the requested summary.
In reference to the proposal, the team needs additional information.

FAQs:

1. What are other ways to say “according to”?

You can use phrases such as as stated by, as reported by, as noted by, based on, or as explained by, depending on the source and tone.

2. Why should I use alternatives to “according to”?

Using creative alternatives prevents repeating the same expression and adds sentence variety. It can make your writing feel more natural, fresh, and engaging.

3. Can I use these alternatives in academic writing?

Yes. Many alternatives work well in academic writing and an academic paper, especially when you need to attribute information to a reliable source, researcher, or expert.

4. Are these phrases suitable for professional communication?

Yes. You can choose professional alternatives when writing an email, report, or other formal message. The best choice depends on the intended tone and audience.

5. How do I choose the right alternative?

Consider the meaning, context, source, and tone of your sentence. Choose an expression that communicates your idea with clarity, accuracy, and credibility.

Conclusion:

Learning 25 Other Ways to Say ‘According to’ (With Examples) can make everyday and professional communication more flexible. Instead of repeating one phrase, you can select alternatives that suit your writing, audience, and purpose. This is useful for essays, articles, reports, emails, and academic writing.

The right expression can improve sentence variety, writing flow, and clarity while keeping your ideas accurate and easy to understand. With regular practice, these alternatives can become a natural part of your simple human English and help you communicate information in a more polished and engaging way.