a few trips back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a few trips back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to several previous journeys or visits to a particular place. Example: "I remember a few trips back when we explored the mountains together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We made quite a few trips back and forth.

The Guardian

After a few trips back in 2005, I simply stopped assuming that white people in London spoke English any more.

The Guardian

A few trips back and forth bring on a dreamlike state, where time — and quotidian worry — fade to amusing insignificance.

The New York Times - Travel

And cookies can take quite a few trips back and forth to the oven.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

After a few trips to Ikea (where most of Mr. Herscher's supplies came from), he was back in the Rube Goldberg business.

The New York Times

It's been a long journey involving a few trips to Damascus as he ditched his moderate record and then to hell and back through the primaries.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then, after a few trips to Washington to sell his plan, Mr. Pataki assumed a lower profile and seemed to cut back on his lobbying efforts.

The New York Times

He made a few more trips back and forth and Irene McAllister, a counselor at the group home where Mr. Banegas lives, told him his work setting the table was finished.

The New York Times

So I made a few exploratory photography trips back to the wide, open spaces of South Dakota.

The New York Times

But even those few swaying trips back and forth damaged the unusually flexible buildings, jamming doors to elevators and escape stairways and conference rooms, and probably further ripping up the gypsum around the stairwells, helping to trap hundreds of people in and even below the impact zones.

The New York Times - Magazine

Most young, middle-class Indians live with their parents, leaving few opportunities for trips back to "my place".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a few trips back" when you want to indicate a small number of past journeys or visits to a specific location or event. It's suitable for informal and semi-formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "few trips" without the "back" if you specifically want to refer to past trips. "Few trips" can be ambiguous and might refer to a lack of trips in general.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a few trips back" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating when something occurred in relation to past journeys. It specifies the temporal context, linking a past event to previous travels. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a few trips back" is a commonly used adverbial phrase to refer to events or experiences during past journeys. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability in English. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase effectively provides context by linking past events to previous travels. Remember to use "a few trips back" when you wish to indicate a small number of past travels to a location or event, ensuring you're not just saying "few trips", which could be interpreted differently.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Previous visits

A simpler and more direct way to refer to prior visits.

Earlier journeys

Focuses on the temporal aspect of the trips, highlighting that they occurred earlier.

Several return visits

Emphasizes the repeated nature of the visits, using "several" to indicate more than two.

A small number of previous visits

Provides a more explicit and descriptive alternative.

A couple of journeys ago

Uses "couple" to suggest two previous journeys, providing a more specific quantity.

A handful of returns

Uses "handful" to suggest a small number of return journeys.

Some prior excursions

Employs more formal vocabulary like "excursions" to refer to previous trips.

Past expeditions

Uses "expeditions" to imply more adventurous or significant trips.

Some former voyages

Employs "voyages" to imply longer or more significant travels.

On several prior occasions

Introduces a more formal and elaborate phrasing.

FAQs

How can I use "a few trips back" in a sentence?

You can use "a few trips back" to refer to events that happened on previous journeys. For example, "I remember a few trips back when we explored the mountains together."

What can I say instead of "a few trips back"?

You can use alternatives like "several return visits", "previous visits", or "earlier journeys" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "a few trips back" or "some trips back"?

"A few trips back" is generally preferred when indicating a small, specific number of previous journeys. "Some trips back" is acceptable but less precise.

What's the difference between "a few trips back" and "a few years back"?

"A few trips back" refers specifically to past journeys or visits. "A few years back" refers to a point in time several years in the past. The phrases are not interchangeable.