How to tell them apart
The core contrast is that によると marks the source of information you heard or read, always followed by a hearsay/reporting verb like そうだ or という. によって marks means, cause, agent, or dependency — never a source of hearsay. Swapping them is wrong: 天気予報によると雨が降るそうだ is natural, but 天気予報によって雨が降るそうだ is not, because によって cannot introduce a source of information.
- によると Use によると when you are citing where you heard or read the information that follows.
- によって/より Use によって when you are showing means, cause, agent of a passive verb, or dependency on a situation.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| によると niyoruto | based on what some source says or reports | N3 |
| によって/より niyotte yori | depending on / caused by / through the use of | N3 |
によると niyoruto
based on what some source says or reports
によると introduces information heard or read from a particular source, with the meaning according to that source. It follows a noun naming the source, as in 新聞によると or 天気予報によると, and the main clause then reports what was said. The reported content is presented as hearsay rather than confirmed fact, so it often ends with forms like そうだ or らしい. It is neutral in register and common in news reports and everyday conversation.
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新聞によると男はついに自白したそうだ。
According to the papers, the man has finally confessed.
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天気予報によると、明日は雪が降ります。
It will snow tomorrow according to the weather forecast.
によって/より niyotte yori
depending on / caused by / through the use of
によって marks a noun that determines an outcome, causes an event, or serves as the means for an action. It is used for meanings like depending on, because of, and through the use of, as in 人によって or コンピューターによって. It attaches directly to a noun, with により as a more formal written equivalent. It often appears in passive sentences, where it can indicate the agent or cause rather than a neutral tool.
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彼の新しい本によって彼の名声が高まった。
His new book added to his reputation.
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多くの仕事がコンピューターによってなされている。
A lot of jobs are done by computers.
によると and によって/より are both JLPT N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.