Cool MateAccordingly vs Thereby
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accordingly
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1adverb
Thereby
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)C1adverb
Most formal: TherebyMost common: Accordingly
| Accordingly | Thereby | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈkɔːdɪŋli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈkɔːrdɪŋli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌðeəˈbaɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌðerˈbaɪ/"]/ |
| Meaning | In a way that is suitable or appropriate based on something else. | in that way; as a result |
| Example | We have to discover his plans and act accordingly. | Regular exercise strengthens the heart, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | act accordingly, respond accordingly, adjust accordingly, plan accordingly, behave accordingly | thereby improving, thereby increasing, thereby allowing |
| Antonyms | inappropriately, improperly, unsuitably, contrarily | indirectly, without effect, in no way |
| Common mistakes | Using 'accordingly' in informal situations where simpler words would be better., Confusing 'accordingly' with 'according to', which has a different meaning., Omitting the necessary context before using 'accordingly'. | Using 'thereby' in informal speech when it's not appropriate., Confusing 'thereby' with 'therefor', which has a different meaning., Neglecting to pair 'thereby' with a gerund. |
| Usage notes | Use 'accordingly' to show a result based on a previous statement. It's often found in written English and formal contexts but can also be used in speech. | Use 'thereby' in formal writing to indicate the result of an action. It's less common in everyday conversation and may sound overly formal. |
Frequently asked questions: Accordingly vs Thereby
What's the difference between Accordingly and Thereby?
Accordingly: In a way that is suitable or appropriate based on something else. Thereby: in that way; as a result
Which is more formal: Accordingly and Thereby?
Thereby is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Accordingly and Thereby?
Accordingly is the most common in everyday English.
Are Accordingly and Thereby the same CEFR level?
Accordingly: C1, Thereby: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Accordingly and Thereby interchangeably?
Not always. Accordingly and Thereby are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.