I returned by plane

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I returned by plane" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the mode of transportation you used to come back from a location. Example: "After a week of vacation in Hawaii, I returned by plane, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

While some unaccompanied minors are returned by plane to their home countries, others are brought to child shelters run by the Mexican family welfare agency, Dif.

The Guardian

On August 30, she was returned by plane to Belgium.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

On Tuesday, new security rules go into effect that require Americans returning by plane from Mexico, Panama, the Caribbean and Canada to carry passports.

The New York Times

Returning by plane, if you book the cheapest round-trip fare and then discard the return portion, will cost at least $169 a person, based on a recent search of Internet travel sites.

The New York Times - Travel

As the blizzard approached, the mayor was at his vacation home in Bermuda, although he returned by private plane as the snow began to fall.

The New York Times

I returned to London by train.

Forbes

After a two-year period communicating back and forth by letter I returned to his hometown and photographed ninety one planes he personally selected from his larger collection, which by that stage numbered approximately three hundred in total.

HuffPost

I returned to the flight tracker to see that the plane still hadn't taken off.

The New Yorker

When I returned, I was shocked by what I saw.

The New York Times

In order to further explore the nature of the relationship between the two sets of variables, we performed one-way MANOVAs based on the coordinates of the 58 individuals in the first two synthetic planes returned by the overall 2b-PLS analysis (i.e., axes 1 and 2 computed for the two blocks of variables; Table 5).

Plosone

It took longer than anticipated and my husband hadn't returned by the time the plane was starting to board.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience. This phrasing is generally neutral. If you want to sound more formal, consider 'I traveled back by plane'. If you want to sound less formal, consider 'I flew back'.

Common error

Avoid using alternative prepositions such as "I returned on plane" or "I returned with plane". The correct preposition is "by", indicating the means of transportation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I returned by plane" functions as a statement indicating the mode of transportation used for returning. It provides information about how the subject ('I') completed their return journey. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

13%

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I returned by plane" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe returning via airplane. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's appropriate for a range of contexts, from neutral to slightly formal, with "News & Media", "Wiki" and "Formal & Business" being the most frequent. For more formal settings consider "I traveled back by airplane" and avoid incorrect preposition usage. Simple alternatives include "I flew back". Overall, it's a clear and effective way to communicate how you returned from a trip.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I came back by air

Uses 'air' instead of 'plane', slightly more general.

I flew back

More concise and common, emphasizes the act of flying.

I traveled back by plane

More formal and emphasizes the travel aspect.

I took a plane back

Focuses on the action of taking a plane.

My return trip was by plane

Shifts the focus to the return trip itself.

I journeyed back by airplane

More formal and emphasizes the journey aspect.

I was repatriated by plane

Implies a more formal or official return, often used in the context of returning to one's home country.

I got back on a plane

Implies a return as part of a longer journey or after a break.

The flight brought me back

Focuses on the flight as the agent of return.

My means of return was a plane

A more descriptive and less common way to express the same idea.

FAQs

What is the simplest alternative to "I returned by plane"?

A simpler alternative is "I flew back", which is more concise and commonly used.

Is it correct to say "I returned on the plane" instead of "I returned by plane"?

While "I returned on the plane" is grammatically correct, it implies being on a specific plane. "I returned by plane" refers to the mode of transport.

How can I make "I returned by plane" sound more formal?

You can use "I travelled back by plane", which sounds more formal and emphasizes the travel aspect.

What's the difference between "I returned by plane" and "I returned by air"?

"I returned by plane" specifically mentions the type of aircraft, while "I returned by air" is a broader term encompassing any airborne transportation.