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Is It Grammatically Correct to Say as per?
Many wonder whether the as in as per is superfluous. Wouldn’t the phrase “per your instructions” mean much the same thing as “as per your instructions?” In that case, would it be incorrect to insert the extra word?
The fact is that both per and as per have existed in English in the sense “according to” for a very long time–since the 15th and 16th centuries, respectively. The choice of which to use (or avoid) is entirely a matter of taste. The more ponderous as per is often found in business and legal prose, or in writing that attempts to adopt a formal tone. It is not incorrect to use, but some find it overly legalistic and counsel avoiding it for that reason. On the other hand, it has been used to good effect in facetious mock-business-English (“as per the President’s shiny new Environmental Policy Act”). As in so many matters of diction, the tonal needs of a particular passage should guide your choice.
Examples of as per in a Sentence
Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
The three officers who fired their service weapons have been placed on administrative leave as per protocol, Weathers said, and that aspect is being investigated by Kentucky State Police.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025
Here are the most common reasons, as per the IRS:
The return has errors, is incomplete, or is affected by identity theft or fraud.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 10 July 2025
The law firm’s fees will be capped at $125,000 for the investigation, as per the engagement agreement with the City Council.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for as per
Cite this Entry
“As per.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as%20per. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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