Genitive preposition 'laut' (according to)

laut is a formal genitive preposition meaning according to; it names a source or authority for a statement.

It governs the genitive, but with article-less bare nouns it commonly takes (or allows) the dative:

• laut des Berichts (genitive) - according to the report
• laut Gesetz / laut Berichten (dative / uninflected) - according to law / according to reports

Examples:

• Laut des Berichts steigen die Kosten. - According to the report, the costs are rising.
• Laut Vertrag haftet der Verkäufer. - According to the contract, the seller is liable.

Common mistakes: Do not confuse the preposition laut with the adjective laut ("loud"). With a determiner, prefer the genitive (laut des Gutachtens); with a bare noun, the dative/uninflected form is idiomatic (laut Plan, laut Aussage des Zeugen). laut introduces a source of information; for conformity to a rule, gemäß (+ dative) or nach may fit better.

'laut' (according to) names a source; it takes the genitive (or dative).

Names a source (according to); genitive, or dative/no article with bare nouns.

'laut' (gemäß) nennt eine Quelle; steht mit dem Genitiv (oder Dativ).