as back as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as far back as" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a point in time that was a long time ago. Example: I have been eating this same brand of cereal for as far back as I can remember.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But it's an argument that goes at least as back as far as 1776, when Adam Smith wrote in "The Wealth of Nations": "It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense".

The New York Times

Also as far as back as March 2005 and April 2000.

The New York Times

However, unlike those rivals, the startup, which actually started out life as a side project as far as back as 2010, has yet to take any external investment.

TechCrunch

Antibodies to DENV were known to be associated with DHF in earlier studies as back as 1969 [ 22].

BMC Infectious Diseases

You can fall as back as to Newton's laws for help.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They were computer-literate as far back as 1993.

The New York Times - Arts

Figure 1 shows the amount of papers published each year, going as far back as 1999.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

They look back as much as forward.

The Economist

Be back as soon as possible.

The New York Times

Plies is back, as brutish as ever.

The New York Times

Some of our reports back as far as 1942.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as back as", consider whether "as far back as" might provide better clarity, especially when referring to dates or historical events. For instance, "The records go as back as 1900" could be improved to "The records go as far back as 1900".

Common error

Avoid using "as back as" when describing the duration of an event. While grammatically correct, it can sound awkward. Instead of saying, "I've known him as back as five years," opt for "I've known him for as long as five years" or "I've known him for five years".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as back as" functions primarily as a conjunction phrase, often indicating a return to a previous state or referring to a point in time. Ludwig shows the phrase can be used to specify a time or condition, though alternative phrases might offer greater clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as back as" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote a return to a previous state or reference a past point in time. As Ludwig AI validates, it's usable but less common than alternatives like "as far back as". Its usage spans various contexts, including news, wikis, and scientific publications. While grammatically sound, consider if more specific phrases like "dating back to" or "returning to" would provide greater clarity. Thus, use it judiciously, keeping in mind audience expectations and potential for misinterpretation. The examples provided by Ludwig serve as a guide, demonstrating its range and limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as far back as

Emphasizes the temporal distance from the present.

as long ago as

Highlights the duration since a past event.

dating back to

Specifically indicates the starting point of something's existence or occurrence.

going back to

Indicates a return to a subject or idea.

returning to

Focuses on the act of going back to a previous state or place.

reverting to

Implies a return to a former condition, often undesirable.

reaching back to

Implies an effort to access something from the past.

reminiscent of

Suggests a similarity to something from the past.

to the extent of

Highlights the limit or degree of something.

as much as

Indicates a degree or quantity that is equal to another.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "as back as"?

The phrase "as back as" is appropriate when you want to indicate a return to a previous state or when referring to a point in the past. A more common alternative is "as far back as" when indicating something historical.

What's the difference between "as back as" and "as far back as"?

"As far back as" is more commonly used to refer to a specific point in time in the past. "As back as" can sometimes be used to indicate a return to a previous state, but it's less conventional in temporal contexts.

How can I rephrase a sentence using "as back as" to sound more natural?

Consider using phrases like "dating back to", "since", or "returning to" depending on the context. For example, instead of "I remember it as back as yesterday", try "I remember it as if it were yesterday".

Is "as back as" always grammatically correct?

While technically grammatically correct, "as back as" isn't always the most idiomatic or clear choice. Other alternatives often provide greater clarity and flow better in writing, especially when specifying dates. Consider "as early as" or "as far back as" for past events.