How to use "in accordance with"

What Does "in accordance with" Mean?

• Grammatical function: It expresses a relationship of compliance, conformity, or adherence. It indicates that an action or situation aligns with a specific rule, law, standard, or agreement.
• Typical sentence position: While it can appear in various positions, it most commonly appears at the beginning or in the middle of a clause.
• Register: Formal

How to Use It

• Syntactic patterns: "In accordance with" is typically followed by a noun phrase specifying the rule, law, policy, or standard being followed. It often precedes a clause describing the action or situation that is compliant.
• Punctuation rules: A comma is often used after "in accordance with" when it introduces a clause, especially if placed at the beginning of a sentence. No comma is needed if it's integrated smoothly within the clause.
• Grammatical flexibility: "In accordance with" can start a sentence, but it can also be moved within a sentence for emphasis or stylistic variation. It cannot be directly negated; instead, you would negate the action itself (e.g., "did not act in accordance with...").
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "in accordance with" in very informal contexts might sound overly stilted. Also, misusing it to simply mean "with" is incorrect; it specifically implies adherence to a standard or rule.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from in accordance with on Ludwig.guru.

"It is in accordance with the law." — The Guardian

"They dress in accordance with company policy." — The New York Times

"This was in accordance with federal guidelines." — The New Yorker

"Voters who cast their ballots in accordance with the rules, in accordance with law, have rights." — The New York Times

"All operations are conducted in accordance with international law"." — The Guardian

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/in+accordance+with

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
according to	Neutral; indicates source of information or rule followed.
pursuant to	Highly formal and legalistic; emphasizes legal authority.
in compliance with	Formal; stresses adherence to regulations or standards.
consistent with	Neutral; indicates agreement or compatibility.
in line with	Neutral; emphasizes alignment with a plan or strategy.
under	Less formal; indicates governance or control by a rule/law.
following	Neutral; indicates chronological sequence and adherence.

Common Mistakes

• Using "in accordance with" in informal situations can sound overly formal or stilted.
• Forgetting the "with" is a common error, changing the meaning of the phrase.
• Learners often confuse "in accordance with" with simpler prepositions like "with" or "under", failing to capture the nuance of adherence to a rule or standard.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
in accordance with	Compliance, conformity	Formal	Initial, medial

FAQs

Where can "in accordance with" be placed in a sentence?

In accordance with can appear at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma, or it can be placed in the middle of a sentence. Its position often depends on the emphasis you want to give to the rule or the action being described. For example: "In accordance with company policy, employees must attend the training." or "Employees must attend the training in accordance with company policy."

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How does "in accordance with" differ from "according to"?

While both phrases indicate a relationship of agreement or conformity, "in accordance with" emphasizes adherence to a rule, law, or standard. "According to" simply indicates the source of information, not necessarily implying compliance. For instance, "The report was prepared according to the guidelines," versus "The report was prepared in accordance with the law."

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How can I avoid confusing "in accordance with" with simpler prepositions like "with" or "under"?

Remember that "in accordance with" always implies a specific rule, law, agreement, or standard is being followed. If you can replace the phrase with "following" or "in compliance with" without changing the meaning, then "in accordance with" is appropriate. If you're simply describing something that exists alongside something else, or is controlled by something, then "with" or "under" would be more suitable.