By way of background

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "By way of background" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to introduce a preceding or upcoming section of a text that provides context, or background information, related to the current topic. For example: "By way of background, John was born in Chicago and his family moved to New York when he was ten."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By way of background: the Senate approved a $60bn bill on Friday to aid recovery.

The Guardian

By way of background, you might be aware that Amy has been staying on the island of St Lucia for the last few months.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By way of background, the decision in 2010 to target groups with certain words in their names did not come out of nowhere.

The New York Times

By way of background, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program was signed into law in June 2008 by George W. Bush, when the unemployment rate was 5.6 percent.

The New York Times

By way of background, the pay guidelines were drawn up in the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008 when it emerged that bonuses were still being paid out despite huge losses being run by banks.

The Guardian - Business

By way of background, a directive is a piece of European Union law which tells member states that they have to achieve a certain goal, but leaves the detail of how to go about it to the individual states, within reason.

The Guardian

"By way of background, what we do is nothing different than what traditional TV networks do to prevent, for example, someone from outside the US from watching the Olympics on NBC.com.

Independent

By way of background, Stone "often explains his role as a sort of evangelist, a priest of classical prophets", and here he and Chris Ryan have created an almost entirely new text "after Ibsen", set in the 21st century and combining contemporary Australia with the playwright's Nordic setting.

The Guardian

By way of background, most investors require that the GP entity hold a small percentage of the limited partner interests in a fund.

TechCrunch

By way of background, Nolan studied mechanical and aerospace engineering and wound up working on propulsion systems and the Dragon space capsule at SpaceX out of Cornell.

TechCrunch

By way of background, general partners of funds are typically entitled to 20percentt or more of the profits generated by a fund.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the background information is directly relevant to the main topic to avoid unnecessary digressions.

Common error

Avoid stating the obvious by providing background that is already widely known or easily inferred from the main topic. Focus on unique or less familiar aspects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "By way of background" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing explanatory or contextual information. This phrase serves as an adjunct, modifying the subsequent clause by providing necessary background details, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "By way of background" is a prepositional phrase used to introduce context or essential information to help understand a topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly appears in various contexts, including news, science, and business. Its usage is generally neutral to professional, and it effectively serves to set the stage for a deeper understanding. Alternatives like "for context" or "to provide some background" offer similar functionality with slight variations in formality and emphasis. When using "By way of background", ensure that the provided information is relevant and avoids unnecessary redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

To provide some background

A more explicit and descriptive alternative.

By way of explanation

Similar to the original, focusing on explaining.

For context

A shorter and more direct way to introduce background information.

As a preliminary

Implies a formal introduction of essential information.

As an introduction

Positions the information as a lead-in to the main topic.

Preliminarily

A concise, adverbial form to introduce background information.

By means of explanation

Highlights the act of clarifying the topic.

In order to understand

Focuses on the reader's comprehension of the situation.

As a point of reference

Establishes a baseline or standard for understanding.

For informational purposes

Emphasizes the provision of factual information.

FAQs

How can I use "By way of background" in a sentence?

You can use "By way of background" to introduce context or preceding events that are necessary to understand the main topic. For example: "By way of background, the company was founded in 1995."

What are some alternatives to "By way of background"?

You can use alternatives such as "for context", "to provide some background", or "as a preliminary".

Is "By way of background" formal or informal?

"By way of background" is generally considered neutral to formal and is suitable for professional, academic, and journalistic contexts.

What's the difference between "By way of background" and "In summary"?

"By way of background" introduces contextual information before the main topic, while "In summary" concludes by reiterating main points.