According to someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "According to someone" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to attribute information or opinions to a specific person or source. Example: "According to the scientist, climate change is accelerating at an alarming rate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

According to someone familiar with the transaction, the collateral was, essentially, the whole company.

The New Yorker

According to someone who knows Powell, his comment about the article was terse.

The New Yorker

According to someone close to the discussions, they initially assumed they could hide behind the French.

The Economist

According to someone close to the company, Mr. Suria's report was made available to Amazon yesterday.

The New York Times

According to someone close to Rice, these are some of his preferable destinations: 1. Oakland.

The New York Times - Sports

According to someone who is, the Israeli boat now leads the Brazilian boat, with Italy third.

The Guardian - Sport

According to someone with direct knowledge of the process, admirers of Ms. Raab have begun putting her name forward.

The New York Times

According to someone close to the discussions, the Germans initially assumed they could hide behind the French.

The Economist

According to someone else who knew Agnant, Madonna (with whom Tupac would become close) was one of Agnant's celebrity friends.

The New Yorker

According to someone present, Kerry told his colleagues at the March meeting, "Shell, B.P., and Conoco are going to need to silence the rest of the industry".

The New Yorker

According to someone at the meeting, Morvillo, Savarese, and Pedowitz all told Stewart that she would never get a better deal.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "according to someone" when you need to attribute information to a source, especially when the source wishes to remain anonymous or is not the primary focus of the statement.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on phrases like "according to someone" without providing additional context or justification for the anonymity. If possible, provide more specific details about the source to enhance credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "according to someone" serves as an attribution marker, indicating that the information or statement being presented originates from a specific, often unnamed, source. As Ludwig indicates, it is used to introduce information from a specific person.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "according to someone" is a commonly used phrase to attribute information to an unspecified source, particularly in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically correct and serves the purpose of conveying information while maintaining source anonymity. While it's acceptable, it's important to avoid overuse and consider providing more specific details about the source when possible to enhance credibility. Alternatives like "as someone stated" or "in someone's view" can add variety to your writing, but ultimately, the choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

According to a person

A slightly more formal variation that emphasizes the individual.

As someone stated

Replaces "according to" with "as stated by", making the attribution more direct.

In someone's view

Shifts the focus to the person's perspective or opinion.

Someone mentioned that

More informal way of indicating that someone said something.

Based on what someone said

Emphasizes the reliance on a previous statement.

Someone indicated that

Implies a more subtle or indirect communication of information.

From someone's perspective

Highlights the viewpoint or frame of reference of the source.

Someone reported that

Used when conveying information obtained from a report.

In the words of someone

Highlights the specific wording used by the source.

Someone believes that

Indicates a personal belief or conviction.

FAQs

How can I use "according to someone" in a sentence?

You can use "according to someone" to introduce information that you learned from an individual, as in, "According to someone familiar with the matter, the deal is off."

What are some alternatives to using "according to someone"?

Alternatives include phrases like "as someone stated", "in someone's view", or "someone mentioned that", which can vary the tone and emphasis of your attribution.

Is it better to use "according to someone" or name the source directly?

Naming the source directly is generally preferable for credibility, but "according to someone" is appropriate when the source requires anonymity or is not the primary subject.

When is it appropriate to use "according to someone" in writing?

It's appropriate when you need to attribute information to a source who wishes to remain unnamed or when the specific identity of the source is not crucial to the information being conveyed.