When I ran across accord vs accordance, I thought Christmas. It’s a season of accord and most Christians are in accordance with specific traditions such as a Christmas tree, lights, gifts, and a whole lotta food *grin*.
Accord is both noun, which usually refers to an agreement between two or more people or groups, and verb that gives something that brings into agreement.
Accordance is strictly a noun that either conforms or agrees with a rule or standard.
Word Confusions . . .
. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end.
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| Accord | Accordance |
|---|---|
 |
 — |
| Part of Grammar: | |
| Noun; Verb, intransitive & transitive
Plural for the noun: accords Third person present verb: accords |
Morpheme: accord
Noun Plural: accordances |
| Noun: An official agreement or treaty
Verb, intransitive: To arrive at an agreement [Obsolete[ To give consent Verb, transitive: Give especially as appropriate, due, or earned To bring into agreement |
Noun: Conformity or agreement The act of granting
|
| Examples: | |
| Noun: Opposition groups refused to sign the accord. Many hope for a peace accord. The government and the rebels are in accord on one point. It is glorious when function and form are in harmonious accord. He did it of his own accord, without being forced to. With one accord they stood up to cheer him. She knew they would leave of their own accord. Verb, intransitive: His story accords with what I saw happen. He claims that the newspaper’s quote does not accord with what he actually said. Verb, transitive: The national assembly accorded the General more power. They accorded the president great respect. The competitors should all be accorded equal respect. |
Noun: There is good accordance between the values. The product was disposed of in accordance with federal regulations. Everything has been done in accordance with your instructions. It is all in accordance with the rules. Entries which are not in accordance with the rules will be disqualified. |
| Derivatives: | |
| Adjective: accordant Adverb: according, accordingly |
|
| History of the Word: | |
| Old English acordian, from the Old French acorder meaning reconcile, be of one mind, from the Latin ad- (to) + cor, cord- (heart); influenced by concord. | Middle English from the Old French acordance, from acorder meaning bring to an agreement. |
C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!
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Resources for Accord versus Accordance
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“Accord vs. Accordance.” Rephrasely.com. 1 Jan 2023. Accessed 5 Dec 2023. <https://rephrasely.com/usage/accord-vs-accordance>.
Apple Dictionary.com
The Free Dictionary: accord, accordance
Merriam-Webster: accord
Pinterest Photo Credits
Civilians Escorted Out of a Hostile Area by LCPL CE Rolfes is in the public domain and courtesy of the US National Archives and the US Marine Corps, via Picryl.
Revised as of 2 Apr 2024
By: Kathy Davie