a long time back

USAGE SUMMARY

"a long time back" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that happened a long time ago in the past. Example: "A long time back, I used to live in the countryside with my grandparents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"I sang that a long time back".

The New York Times

"It seemed such a long time back then.

The Guardian - Arts

"I sang that," he said, "a long time back".

The New York Times - Arts

We had drinks and talked as if continuing a conversation we had started a long time back.

The Guardian - Books

Shaq left for the Lakers in 1996 - he would win three successive titles in Los Angeles "You know that's a long time back, right!

Independent

Tom Waits, bowler-hatted and bow-tied, plays Mr Nick – the Devil, probably – with whom Parnassus struck a deal a long time back.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

But that means the revision takes a long time, back-and-forth, just answering these post-its takes, it seems like, forever.

Stanford University

One of the ablest men I ever worked with-this is a long time back-was a German pre- World War II democratic chancellor, Heinrich Brüning.

Forbes

Last year Corbyn, a long-time back-bench lawmaker, was the shock choice of party members to head Labor, which has lost two successive general elections to the Conservatives. .

Los Angeles Times

But, I remember interviewing Tina Turner way back in the day and I remember Jon Bon Jovi a long time ago, back before they were anything.

Huffington Post

She stayed like that for a long time, her back shuddering.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a long time back" to add a slightly informal tone when referring to events in the past, especially in conversational or narrative contexts. For more formal contexts, consider using "long ago" or "in the distant past."

Common error

Avoid using "a long time back" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise or formal alternatives like "many years ago" or "in the distant past" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long time back" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate when an action occurred. Ludwig shows it's used to specify an event happened in the past.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

28%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a long time back" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate an event occurred in the distant past. Ludwig AI validates its usability. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to slightly informal contexts such as news articles and narratives. For formal academic or scientific writing, more precise alternatives like "long ago" or "in the distant past" are recommended. The phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Academia, and Science. When you're aiming for a conversational tone or reminiscing about past experiences, "a long time back" is a suitable choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long ago

This is a simpler, more direct way of saying something happened in the distant past.

in the distant past

This alternative emphasizes the remoteness of the event in time.

many years ago

This specifies the passage of several years.

way back when

This is a more informal and folksy way to refer to the past.

in bygone days

This phrase suggests a nostalgic or historical context.

in former times

Similar to 'in bygone days' but slightly more formal.

back in the day

This refers to a specific period in the past, often associated with positive memories.

once upon a time

Typically used for storytelling, especially fairy tales.

in the olden days

Refers to a very distant past, often before modern times.

in the long-ago past

This alternative is slightly more emphatic and literary.

FAQs

What does "a long time back" mean?

The phrase "a long time back" means a considerable period ago in the past, indicating that something occurred many years or even decades ago.

How can I use "a long time back" in a sentence?

You can use "a long time back" to describe when something happened, for instance: "I visited Europe "a long time back"."

What can I say instead of "a long time back"?

You can use alternatives like "long ago", "many years ago", or "in the distant past" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a long time back"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Ludwig AI confirms this, although in formal contexts, alternatives might be more suitable.