Can I say "by order" instead of "in order"?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
"By order" and "in order" actually mean different things. "By order" is usually used in the legal sense, like when a court or other authority gives instructions or commands. Ex: The stores were closed during the pandemic by government order. Ex: A curfew was enacted by court order. "In order" is most appropriate for this context, as it refers to a sequenced arrangement (order). If you want to indicate that a multitude of things are arranged in sequence, you should use "in order." Ex: These books are categorized in alphabetical order. Ex: These books go by number order.