across, over, through, accept, agree and according to

 across, over and through

1 onto the other side of (line): across and over

Across and over can both be used to mean 'on or to the other side of a line, river, road, bridge etc'.

His village is just across/over the border.

See if you can jump across/over the stream.

2 high things: over preferred

We prefer over to say 'on Ito the other side of something high'.

Why are you climbing over the wall? (NOT ••• aefflSS the wall?)

3 flat areas: across preferred

We usually prefer across to say 'on/to the other side of a flat area or surface'.

He walked right across the desert.

It took them six hours to row across the lake.

4 the adverb over (to)

Note that the adverb over has a wider meaning than the preposition over. We often use over (to) for short journeys.

I'm going over to John's. Shall we drive over and see your mother?

5 across and through

The difference between across and through is like the difference between on and in. Through, unlike across, is used for a movement in a three-dimensional space, with things on all sides. Compare:

- We walked across the ice. (We were on the ice.)

I walked through the wood. (I was in the wood.)

- We drove across the desert.

We drove through several towns.

7 accept and agree

Before an infinitive, we usually use agree, not accept.

I agreed to meet them here. (More normal than I accepted to meet . . .)

8 according to

According to X means 'in X's opinion', 'if what Xsays is true'.

According to Harry, it's a good film.

The train gets in at 8.27. according to the timetable.

We do not usually give our own opinions with according to. Compare:

According to Ann, her boyfriend is brilliant.

(= If what Ann says is true•...)

In my opinion. Ann's boyfriend is an idiot. (NOT Aeeormng £6 me• . . .)