by all accounts — according to what people say or report
expressionC1IELTS 7+formalcommon
Used to introduce information that is generally agreed upon or widely reported by others, not just your own opinion or experience.
Say it like a native
Textbook According to the unanimous testimony of all available reports, it was a success.
Native By all accounts, it was a great night.
'Unanimous testimony of available reports' is legalese for a simple hedge.
Pattern: by all accounts, [clause]
In use
- By all accounts, the new manager is very approachable and supportive.communication
- By all accounts, living in a big city can be quite stressful, but it also offers a lot of opportunities for personal and professional growth.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ By all account, she did well.
✓ By all accounts, she did well.
Fixed phrase — 'accounts' (plural).
Common collocations
by all accounts + report— it was, she's, a great, they did
Don't confuse it
'By all accounts' is used for widely reported information, while 'apparently' is more for things that seem true but may not be widely agreed on.