All three prepositions mean “to take something as evidence or proof" and sometimes are interchangeable. (1) 按（按照/依照）上级的指示，这件事由他来完成。 (2) 是不是所有的事情一定要按（按照/依照）规定来做？
Although the three words are interchangeable in these two examples, 按 and 按照 stress doing something under a certain condition while 依照 stresses that an action is not without reason and gives the statement a more formal connotation.
In the following more colloquial examples, 按 is usually used to mean "under a certain condition". 按照 can also be used in some cases. (3) 请按要求完成这些事。 (4) 按（按照）他的说法，我们应该明天早上出发。
按 is often replaced by 按着, 按……说, 按……讲. (5) 他按着（按照）地图的指示，顺利找到了这里。 (6) 按理说，他不应该这时候回来。
A personal pronoun can be inserted before 说 or 讲. (7) 按我说，我们还是走吧。 (8) 按你这么讲，这题目是错的？
按 can be used with monosyllabic words but 按照 and 依照 cannot, e.g. 按日计算, 按人分配, etc.
Since 依照 stresses an act in accordance with rules and regulations, it is usually used in legal sentences. For example: (9) 依照相关法律规定，这种行为应该受到处罚。 (10) 这事必须依照相关规定来办。
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