Expressions often used by lawyers and that cause confusion are “according to”, “in terms of” and “in accordance with”.
“according to”
- is a prepositional phrase and we use “according to” + a noun
- it is used to show where the information comes from
- it can be substituted by “stated by/in”, “as maintained by” or “as claimed by”
“in accordance with”
- refers to an agreement
- conformity with laws, an authority, or procedures
“in terms of”
- is a phrase and we use “in terms of” + noun or gerund
- used to refer to a specific topic or area of focus
e.g.
- in terms of schools, public schools are extremely popular.
- in terms of studying overseas, the US is a good choice.
- in terms of the agreement…
- in terms of the fines imposed by legislation…
- in terms of Section 14 of the Employment Act…
Can be substituted by:
- “as expressed by”
- “regarding”
- “by means of”
- “with reference to
