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VOA名师答疑2022--According to v. As Per

时间:2023-01-05 01:10:35

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(单词翻译)

According to v. As Per

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between the phrases "as per" and "according to."

Question:

This is Mengwen. I just wanted to know what is the difference between "as per" and "according to" when writing an email. Many thanks in advance. Mengwen

Answer

Dear Mengwen,

This is a great question.

In some cases, we can use both of these expressions in the same way. But they do have slight differences in tone1 and formality.

Let's start with "according to."

According to

"According to" is described as a preposition2 in many dictionaries.

"According to" means "as stated by someone or shown by something." It is usually used at the beginning of a sentence.

Here are some examples:

According to our teacher, the final paper is due before the end of the day.

According to my last email, if we do not schedule the event soon, we will not be able to do so until next year.

It can also mean, "in a way that agrees with." For this meaning, "according to" can appear in the middle of a sentence. For example:

The teacher divided the class according to age. Any student born before July was put in group A, and anyone born July 1st or after was placed in group B.

The term "according to" is used very generally. The tone or feeling that we get from it is neutral3, meaning neither good nor bad. It can be used in both formal and informal situations.

"According to" is used best when we expect something to have happened, or for setting4 up meetings or completing requests.

This use is most closely5 related6 to "as per," so let's move on to that discussion7 now.

As per

"As per" means "in accordance8 with." The expression combines the adverb "as" with the preposition "per." Here is an example:

Dear Karen,

As per your request, I have listed all of the items that we need to send out by next week.

In this case, it has the same meaning as "according to." And we can use it in similar situations when we want to point out something previously9 referenced10. But it is best to use "as per" with more formal requests that have specific times and dates. The term is often used in commercial or business settings11.

We can also use just the preposition "per" in the same way, as in this example:

Dear Professor Karen,

I handed in the test before the due date, per your instructions.

Summary

Both "according to" and "as per" relate to what was previously said or done. "According to" is more general and can be used in different situations. "As per" is more formal and is often used for business, especially with specific due dates and requests.

If you are still unsure about which to use, try thinking of the connotation of each. Connotation is the idea, feeling or association12 linked to a word or phrase.

Since "according to" is more general and can be used in a lot of different situations, it usually has a neutral connotation.

In recent years, especially with many jobs going online, "as per" is sometimes seen in a more negative way. This has led to many internet memes showing how "as per" is used in emails.

So you might want to choose "according to," just in case.

Please let us know if these explanations have helped you, Mingwen.

What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at [email protected]

And that's Ask a Teacher.

Words in This Story

tone – n. a quality, feeling, or attitude expressed by the words that someone uses in speaking or writing

formal – adj. following or according with established form, custom, or rule

in accordance with – phr. following or obeying a rule, law, wish, etc.

commercial – adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services


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1 tone bqFyP     
n.语气,音调,气度,色调;vt.(up)增强
参考例句:
  • There was a tone of mockery in his voice.他说话的语气含有嘲笑的意味。
  • Holmes used an informal,chatty tone in his essays.霍姆斯在文章中语气轻松随便。
2 preposition LQmxx     
n.介词
参考例句:
  • You should cancel this preposition in the sentence.你应该删去句子中的这个介词。
  • We use different preposition to talk about time,days,months and seasons.我们用不动的介词来谈论时间,日,月和季节等。
3 neutral c0Cyz     
adj.中立的,不偏不倚的;中性的
参考例句:
  • Behaviour is never culturally neutral.人的行为从来都受文化的影响。
  • They have maintained a consistently neutral stance.他们一直持中立态度。
4 setting 7i5zmt     
n.背景
参考例句:
  • The play has its setting in Vienna.该剧以维也纳为背景。
  • Where and when a story takes place is called the setting.故事发生的地点和时间称为故事背景。
5 closely XwNzIh     
adv.紧密地;严密地,密切地
参考例句:
  • We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
  • The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。
6 related vkGzSv     
adj.有关系的,有关联的,叙述的,讲述的
参考例句:
  • I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
  • We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
7 discussion 2PBzj     
n.讨论,谈论;论述
参考例句:
  • It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
  • After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨,和平协议渐渐有了眉目。
8 accordance tJLyn     
n.一致,和谐;符合
参考例句:
  • He acted in accordance with his beliefs.他按照自己的信念行事。
  • We should make decisions in accordance with specific conditions.我们应当根据具体情况做出决定。
9 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
10 referenced b51c97679c6658945c1e2e2c2c28d18a     
adj.参考的,引用的
参考例句:
  • The reader is cross-referenced to the entry "center". 读者可参见center词条。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Each new volume is thoroughly referenced. 每本新书都有详细的附注。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
11 settings 2e5d8aa3dfa8ef34ca5131d20f9dad51     
n.镶嵌( setting的名词复数 );环境;装置;(某事、戏剧、小说等的)背景
参考例句:
  • to study behaviour in laboratory and naturalistic settings 研究实验室里的以及仿自然环境中的行为
  • This machine has two settings: fast and slow. 这种机器有两种可调的速度:快速和慢速。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
12 association 6O1yp     
n.联盟,协会,社团;交往,联合;联想
参考例句:
  • Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
  • I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

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