a return journey

USAGE SUMMARY

'a return journey' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to refer to a round trip or a journey that involves returning to the place you originally left. For example: We went on a return journey to our hometown to visit family.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Longer delays trigger full refunds of a return journey, even if only one leg is late.

Independent

Newberry began a return journey to England, but he is believed to have died in India.

Britannica

Still, it's an alluring enough gesture to make one hope for a return journey and the full show some day.

Independent

They will stay in Germany after the match, before making a return journey that concludes at Everton on Sunday afternoon.

Independent

A more powerful model could ferry people 500 miles, easily covering a return journey from London to Paris.

The Times

A traveller flying from Edinburgh to Heathrow and connecting to Geneva at present pays 9,000 Avios plus £35 for a return journey.

Independent

Since August tit-for-tat toll rises have meant a fivefold increase in the price of a return journey by car.

The Economist

Taxi drivers have increased fares exponentially; a return journey to Camp Hope to the centre of town is now being quoted at upwards of US$150 £955).

Independent

All canoe trips include a return journey via minibus, so after catching a ride back, I ducked into the temporary exhibition of Chauvet's beguiling interiors.

Independent

I regularly travel from Nottingham (station currently closed) to Leeds on an ancient, cramped, dirty and slow two-carriage service that costs £46 for a return journey.

The Guardian

The 32-seater Pionair aircraft doing the Manchester-Liverpool-Isle of Man run was to have left them at Liverpool and picked them up on a return journey.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a return journey" when you want to emphasize the round-trip aspect of travel, especially when detailing costs, logistics, or the overall experience of going somewhere and coming back.

Common error

Avoid using "a return journey" when you only intend to describe travel to a destination without returning to the origin. Instead, use terms like 'outward journey' or 'one-way trip'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a return journey" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the act of going to a place and then coming back, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Science

11%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a return journey" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a round trip, indicating travel to a destination and the subsequent return to the origin. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Encyclopedic content. While alternatives like "a round trip" and "a return trip" exist, "a return journey" is suitable for formal and informal communication, provided the context clearly involves a round trip and not just a one-way travel. Understanding its specific meaning can help avoid misuse, ensuring clarity in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a round trip

Replaces 'journey' with 'trip', suggesting a complete cycle.

a return trip

Simple synonym replacement of 'journey' with 'trip'.

a homeward journey

Focuses on the direction being towards home.

going back

A more generic expression indicating the act of returning.

coming back

Emphasizes the arrival back at the starting point.

the way back

Refers to the route taken for the return.

a repeat visit

Highlights a subsequent visit to a place.

a second visit

Focuses on the number of visits being two.

returning

A shorter, verb-based way to express going back.

going home

Specifies the destination as 'home'.

FAQs

How is "a return journey" different from "a one-way trip"?

"A return journey" implies traveling to a destination and then coming back to the starting point, while "a one-way trip" only involves traveling to a destination without returning.

What are some alternatives to saying "a return journey"?

You can use alternatives like "a round trip", "a return trip", or "homeward journey" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "a return journey" when referring to a metaphorical journey?

Yes, "a return journey" can be used metaphorically to describe revisiting past experiences, memories, or phases of life, similar to how it describes physical travel.

How to properly use "a return journey" in a sentence?

Use "a return journey" when describing a trip that involves going to a place and then coming back, such as "The cost of "a return journey" was more than I expected".