a while back

USAGE SUMMARY

"a while back" is correct and usable in written English.
It generally means at an unspecified time in the past. For example, "I visited the zoo a while back, but I had forgotten how beautiful it was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She stopped a while back".

The New Yorker

That rule was changed a while back.

The New York Times - Sports

"It was a while back there.

The New Yorker

"A while back".

The New Yorker

I quit a while back".

The Guardian

A while back I had a look.

The Guardian - Music

But that was a while back.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Not my whole career, but a while back.

The New York Times

"I thought, man alive, that's a while back.

The New York Times - Sports

A while back, Schuster went to visit him in Brooklyn.

The New Yorker

A while back I decided to eat healthier.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a while back", ensure it's clear from the context what timeframe you're referring to. If precision is needed, consider specifying a more exact time.

Common error

While "a while back" is acceptable in many contexts, it might sound too informal for academic papers or business reports. Opt for phrases like "previously" or "some time ago" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a while back" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating when an action or event occurred. It specifies that something happened at an unspecified time in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a while back" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that denotes an unspecified time in the past. According to Ludwig, its usage is correct and widely applicable in written English. It's commonly found in news and media contexts, though it's advisable to use more formal alternatives in academic or business writing. The phrase serves to provide context and share information about past events without being overly specific about the timing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some time ago

Emphasizes a duration of time having passed.

a long time ago

Stresses the length of time passed.

in the past

A more general way to refer to a previous time.

some time in the past

Simply states that an action took place in the past

earlier

Implies a comparison to the present or another point in time.

previously

More formal; suggests something happened before something else.

not long ago

Indicates the event happened in the recent past.

in former times

Suggests a period further in the past; more formal.

once upon a time

Used for storytelling, indicating a distant past.

in days gone by

Evokes a sense of nostalgia or a past era.

FAQs

How can I use "a while back" in a sentence?

You can use "a while back" to refer to an unspecified time in the past, like "I visited Paris "a while back" and loved it" or "That rule was changed "a while back"".

What are some alternatives to "a while back"?

Instead of "a while back", you could use phrases like "some time ago", "in the past", or "previously" depending on the level of formality and the context.

Is "a while back" formal or informal?

"A while back" is generally considered informal. For more formal situations, consider alternatives like "some time ago" or "previously".

What is the difference between "a while back" and "a long time ago"?

"A while back" suggests a less specific and possibly shorter duration than "a long time ago". The latter emphasizes that a significant amount of time has passed.