anhand

Anhand is a German preposition meaning "on the basis of" or "by means of." It introduces information that serves as the basis for a conclusion, description, or explanation. In modern German it is most commonly used with the preposition von, forming phrases such as anhand von Beispielen, anhand von Daten, or anhand von Unterlagen. In formal writing you may also encounter the construction anhand der Unterlagen, using the genitive, though the von-variant is more widespread in contemporary usage.

The term is typically used in academic, journalistic, or policy contexts to signal that the following statements derive from specific sources or evidence rather than from general observation. It can convey a sense of demonstration or illustration, similar to "as evidenced by" in English. It is often employed to introduce data, documents, or examples that support a claim.

Etymology and status: Anhand is a compound formed from an + Hand and is a stable, standard preposition in German. It is documented in major dictionaries and widely understood among German speakers. The expression is relatively formal; in everyday speech speakers often substitute phrases such as basierend auf, aufgrund von, oder mittels, depending on the context. As with many German prepositions, its choice and construction should align with the desired level of formality and the specificity of the source material.