Word Usage – Difference Between ‘Per’ and ‘According to’

word-usage

I have two examples:

  • I am assembling this piece of furniture as per the attached
    instructions
  • I am assembling this piece of furniture according to the
    attached instructions

Is there any difference between per (meaning according to) and according to as in the given examples? Can those two words be used interchangeably?

Are there any limitations when one word should be used but not the other?

Best Answer

They mean the same in those two examples, and both are grammatical, but I dislike as per. To me it sounds stilted and I can think of no occasions on which it is necessary to use it. That, however, is a personal view with which others may disagree.

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