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I wonder why we use "accessible to" as a meaning of "can be accessed from", for example, "How to Make Your Blog Accessible to Blind Reader".

It makes more sense to me when using 'accessible from'. Is it wrong to use 'accessible from'?

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"Accessible from" sounds like a place or something that you can access it from. "The back garden is accessible from the kitchen." – Mr Lister Sep 28 '12 at 6:31
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Yeah, accessible from is more related to a location, place. But imho the question could be, why not for like for available 1 for - 2 to – Em1 Sep 28 '12 at 6:37
"Accessible from" means you can get to it from somewhere. "Accessible to" means that it can be got at by something. – Matt Эллен Sep 28 '12 at 9:28
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So the question should have been: why don't we use accessible by or accessible for. – Mr Lister Sep 28 '12 at 12:32

closed as general reference by Matt Эллен, tchrist, Cameron, Lunivore, Mitch Oct 10 '12 at 1:18

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2 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

I wonder why we use "accessible to" as a meaning of "can be accessed from"...

Except, we don't. However, it can be used as a meaning of can be accessed by.

How to make your blog accessible to blind readers.

This is correct as you are giving blind readers access to the blog.

How to make your blog accessible from blind readers.

This implies that you can access your blog from blind readers! Not what the author had in mind, I imagine.

Some other examples:

This building is accessible to wheelchair users.

This building can be accessed by wheelchair users.

This building is accessible from the west.

This content is only accessible to subscribers.

This content can only be accessed by subscribers.

This content is only accessible from Internet Explorer.

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up vote 2 down vote

The phrase accessible to makes sense because it parallels the noun form, access, which routinely takes the preposition to when referring to the persons or things doing the accessing.

Give access to people with passes.

The preposition from is used to describe geography that suggests a point of entry or origin.

There is access from the street to that garden.

Note that the destination of the access still takes to.

The adjectival form accessible is handled similarly

The garden is accessible from the street.
The garden will be accessible to those with passes.

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