adjectiveaccording

Adjectiveaccording is a proposed label used in linguistic and lexicographic discussions to refer to the English adjective according when it appears within the fixed prepositional phrase according to. In this sense, adjectiveaccording is not a separate word or a standard grammatical category in most grammars; rather, it denotes the specific word form and its function in a common English construction.

Etymology and form: according derives from the past participle of the verb accord (to be in agreement). Historically, it carries the sense of “in agreement with” or “conforming to.” In modern English, according has an established role as part of the prepositional phrase according to, which introduces sources, standards, or norms.

Grammar and usage: In contemporary usage, according according to functions as a prepositional phrase marker that introduces attribution, citation, or normative reference, rather than as a free-standing adjective. For example: “According to the report, emissions have decreased.” The word according itself does not typically stand alone as a predicative adjective in everyday English; its primary role is as part of the phrasal preposition according to. Some grammars discuss the participial origin of according and contrast it with other prepositional phrases such as in accordance with.

Examples: The phrase according to the author states that the policy will expand. The map, according to legend, shows the river to the east. In these cases, according operates like the head of a fixed prepositional phrase, with the following noun or noun phrase providing the source or standard.

Notes: The term adjectiveaccording is not widely used in standard reference works; it appears mainly in descriptive discussions or as a convenient label for teaching or corpus annotation. Related concepts include the fixed preposition according to, and synonyms such as as stated by or in accordance with.