Some questions...

[aizensousuke]

Whats the difference in usage between "そういうことです”　and "そのとおりです”？ Do they mean the same? When can they be used and not be used interchangibly?

[Psy]

Whats the difference in usage between "そういうことです”　and "そのとおりです”？ Do they mean the same? When can they be used and not be used interchangibly?

I'm really glad to see things like this pop up on the forum, because they make me go back and question what I know and then refine it. The two grammars, いうことです and とおりです, are completely different in meaning and usage:

とおりです means "just as it is," and has the same meaning as と同じように (in the same way) and そのまま (like that). There is no sense of hearsay. 説明書どおりにしてみれば？ "why don't you try it like the manual says?" or perhaps （私が）するとおりにしないで、教えるとおりにしなさい "do as I say, not as I do."

ということだ gives a objective definition of something you've seen or heard about elsewhere, such as 天気予報によると、明日は晴れるということだ。"According to the the weather forecast it will clear up tomorrow." As a matter of interest, in conversation this is simplified to んだって: 天気予報によると、明日は晴れるんだって.

Was that helpful?

[aizensousuke]

ええ、とても役に立ちます。　どうもありがとうございました。　笑