accordingly
- 1As a natural result of what came before; therefore; for that reason.
Demand for the product fell sharply, and the company accordingly reduced its output.
The evidence was overwhelming, and accordingly the jury reached a swift verdict.
Similartherefore, consequently, so, thus, hence
Note
A linking adverb that joins one statement to the next, much as so or consequently does. It typically opens its sentence and is set off by a comma (Accordingly, we set sail). Joseph Conrad uses it bare at the head of a sentence in The Heart of Darkness (1899). It can also sit inside the clause (the company accordingly reduced its output). Wherever it stands, it points back to a cause.
- 2In a way that matches or suits the circumstances; correspondingly.
The instructions changed midway through, and the workers adjusted their methods accordingly.
He understood the risks involved and planned accordingly.
Similarcorrespondingly, appropriately, suitably
Note
Here the word answers "how?" rather than "why?". Its usual place is at the end of a clause, after the verb it qualifies: plan accordingly, changed their cooking styles accordingly, or Shakespeare's "proceed accordingly" in The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra. Built from according plus -ly, it keeps the old idea of agreement, because the action is fitted to whatever was just described. Moved to the front with a comma, it usually becomes the "therefore" meaning.
Practice
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Origin
From Middle English acordingli, equivalent to "according" combined with the suffix "-ly".