Other Ways to Say “According To”: 40+ Formal Alternatives

Few phrases work as hard as “according to”. It introduces statistics, attributes claims, and keeps writers on safe ground when they want someone else’s authority behind a statement. But there is a cost: repeat it three or four times in one document and your writing starts to sound mechanical, as if you only know one way to credit a source.

The good news is that English offers dozens of alternatives, each with its own shade of meaning. Some, like “as stated by” and “in the view of”, belong in essays and official reports. Others, such as “X reckons” or “word is”, fit naturally into conversation. Choosing well is not just a matter of variety; the right phrase also signals how formal you are being and how strongly the evidence backs the claim.

In this guide you will find more than 40 polished alternatives to “according to”, grouped by register, with example sentences, the mistakes to avoid, and answers to the most common questions about the phrase.

Quick Answer

Instead of “according to”, try “as stated by”, “based on”, or “in the view of” for formal and academic writing; “per”, “as per”, or “citing” for business contexts; and “X says”, “apparently”, or “X reckons” for casual conversation. The best choice depends on your register and how direct the source is: “as reported by” suits journalism, while “under” and “in accordance with” suit legal and contractual writing.

Formal and Academic Alternatives to “According To”

Essays, dissertations, and official reports need attribution phrases that sound precise and measured. These are the strongest formal options, each with an example of how to use it naturally.

• As stated by — “As stated by the committee, funding will continue until 2027.”
• In the view of — “In the view of several economists, inflation will ease next year.”
• In the opinion of — “In the opinion of the court, the contract was breached.”
• On the authority of — “On the authority of the registrar, the records were sealed.”
• Based on — “Based on the survey results, satisfaction has improved.”
• As demonstrated by — “As demonstrated by the trial data, the treatment is effective.”
• As reported by — “As reported by the national press, the deal was signed in March.”
• Per the findings of — “Per the findings of the inquiry, procedures were not followed.”
• In line with — “In line with government guidance, masks were worn in clinics.”
• Consistent with — “Consistent with earlier research, the results show a strong effect.”
• Under — “Under the new regulations, firms must publish their accounts.”
• In accordance with — “In accordance with university policy, the thesis was examined twice.”

Notice how these phrases do more than vary your vocabulary: they grade the authority. “On the authority of” suggests an official ruling, while “in the view of” flags that a judgement is being reported, not a settled fact. Matching the phrase to the strength of the source is what separates competent academic writing from careless name-dropping.

Business and Professional Alternatives

Workplace writing rewards brevity. Emails, memos, and reports favour short, confident attribution phrases that keep sentences moving. The same tendency that makes people overuse “according to” also makes them repeat other filler words — if you lean on “for example” too often, it is worth varying that phrase as well.

• As per — “As per your email, the deadline has been moved to Friday.”
• Per — “Per the contract, payment is due within 30 days.”
• Citing — “Citing the annual report, she argued that profits were rising.”
• With reference to — “With reference to your query, the figures are attached.”
• Based on the data from — “Based on the data from finance, costs fell by 12 per cent.”
• As confirmed by — “As confirmed by HR, the policy takes effect on Monday.”
• In accordance with — “In accordance with our agreement, we have enclosed the invoice.”
• Per X’s account — “Per the client’s account, the delay began in June.”

A word of caution: “as per” and “per” are standard in business and legal English, but some style guides consider them too clipped for general academic prose. Use them freely in professional documents, and switch to “as stated by” or “based on” in an essay.

Casual and Everyday Alternatives

In conversation, texts, and informal writing, “according to” can sound stiff. These everyday alternatives carry the same meaning without the formality.

• X says — “Mum says dinner is at seven.”
• X reckons / X thinks — “Tom reckons the match will be postponed.”
• Apparently — “Apparently, the café on the corner has closed.”
• Word is — “Word is that they are moving to Manchester.”
• If X is to be believed — “If the reviews are to be believed, the film is excellent.”
• X told me — “Sarah told me the train was cancelled.”
• Going by — “Going by the forecast, we should take umbrellas.”
• The word on the street is — “The word on the street is that prices are going up.”

Casual phrases often leave the source slightly vague, which is fine among friends but risky in writing that others will rely on. “Apparently” and “word is” signal hearsay; do not use them where you need to show exactly who claimed what.

How to Choose the Right Alternative

With so many options, the question is not which phrase is “correct” but which one fits. Three quick tests will usually settle it.

First, match the register. An essay can carry “in the view of” comfortably; a text message cannot. Second, consider the strength of the claim. Direct, verifiable sources (“as stated by the committee”) deserve stronger phrases than rumours (“word is”). Third, watch your sentence position: formal phrases usually open the sentence (“Based on the data, …”), while casual ones often sit mid-sentence (“They are, apparently, moving”).

Finally, avoid doubling up. “According to the report says” and “as per according to the data” are common slips that happen when writers hedge. One attribution phrase per sentence is always enough — a principle that applies just as strongly when you vary how you introduce what someone said.

Common Mistakes

These are the errors that appear most often alongside “according to” and its alternatives. Each wrong version is followed by the corrected form.

• Wrong: According to me, the plan will work.
  Right: In my opinion, the plan will work. (“According to” is never used with first-person pronouns.)
• Wrong: According to the report says that sales rose.
  Right: According to the report, sales rose. (Do not pair attribution with “says”.)
• Wrong: As per according to the data, costs fell.
  Right: According to the data, costs fell. (Choose one attribution phrase, not two.)
• Wrong: According by the doctor, rest is needed.
  Right: According to the doctor, rest is needed. (The fixed preposition is “to”, never “by”.)
• Wrong: Per to the email, the meeting moved.
  Right: Per the email, the meeting moved. (“Per” takes no extra preposition.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “according to” formal or informal?

It is neutral: acceptable in academic papers, news reports, and everyday speech alike. The issue is never formality but repetition. Varying it with phrases like “as stated by” or “based on” keeps formal writing polished without changing your meaning.

Can I say “according to me”?

No. Native speakers do not use “according to” with “me”, “myself”, “us”, or “ourselves” — it sounds like you are quoting yourself as an outside authority. Use “in my opinion”, “in my view”, or “I believe” instead.

What is the most formal synonym for “according to”?

“As stated by”, “in the view of”, and “on the authority of” are among the most formal. In academic writing, “based on”, “as demonstrated by”, and “consistent with” are also excellent choices because they tie the claim directly to evidence.

Is “per” a good replacement for “according to”?

Yes, in business and legal contexts: “per the contract”, “per your request”. It is concise and professional. In academic essays and general writing it can sound clipped, so “as stated by” or “according to” itself is usually the safer choice there.

Keep sharpening your writing with our other phrase guides: other ways to say “for example”, alternatives to “in conclusion”, and words to use instead of “said”.