Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

assumed back

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assumed back" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a concept related to returning to a previous state or condition, but it lacks clarity and proper usage. Example: "After the discussion, we assumed back to our original plan."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was a tax break that City Hall assumed back then would expire after 10 years.

News & Media

The New York Times

"In my Mars trilogy, I assumed what everyone assumed back then, which was that it was a dead rock," Mr. Robinson said by e-mail on Thursday.

Recent experimental evidence, subjecting participants to either audio or televised versions of the debate, would confirm what many already assumed back then: on television, it's style over substance.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I remember assuming, back then, that the photographer must be intimately familiar with those places.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Resettlement agencies carried out these layoffs assuming, back in February, that the quota would remain at 50,000, which would warrant fewer staffers.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Her appeal came from being a sweet girl in the midst of a courtship with a guy from the "wrong side of the tracks," which was a posture Jennifer Lopez was more than happy to assume back in 2001.

News & Media

Vice

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can borrow money more cheaply than private banks largely because of the assumed government backing.

News & Media

The New York Times

I assume cutting back on the Formula One coverage may have been in that very cause.

Barry Zito 13-122) ischeduleded to start on Monday night against Texas here, and Harden will pitch on Tuesday, assuming his back feels better.

The founders, we also assume, hold back a few million, as well.

News & Media

TechCrunch

The results are shown in Figure 7, as a function of the grating index layer and assuming no back reflection from the substrate backside.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and precision, consider using stronger and more common alternatives such as "assumed they would return", "expected a return", or "presumed it would revert" instead of "assumed back".

Common error

Avoid using "assumed back" as it can be perceived as redundant; the verb "assume" already implies a prior state or expectation. Using alternative phrasing will give your sentences greater effect.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assumed back" functions as a verb-adverb combination where "assumed" is the past tense of the verb "assume", and "back" acts as an adverbial particle. While it attempts to convey a return to a prior assumption, its grammatical structure is questionable, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "assumed back" is a verb-adverb combination that aims to express a return to a previous assumption or state. However, Ludwig highlights that this phrasing is grammatically questionable and lacks clarity, making it non-standard in formal English. It is best to use clearer and more common alternatives, such as "expected to return" or "presumed would revert". While found in contexts like News & Media and Science, its usage is rare, and should be avoided in formal writing to maintain precision and avoid redundancy.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "assumed back" for better clarity?

Consider using alternatives like "expected to return", "presumed would revert", or "anticipated coming back" depending on the specific context.

Is "assumed back" grammatically correct in formal writing?

While it might appear in some contexts, "assumed back" isn't considered standard English. It's better to opt for clearer and more precise phrasing such as "assumed a return" or "expected to return".

What does "assumed back" imply in a sentence?

It suggests an expectation or belief that something would return to a previous state or position. However, its unusual construction can cause confusion.

Are there contexts where "assumed back" is more acceptable?

While not generally recommended, it might be encountered in informal speech or specific dialects. However, it is advisable to replace "assumed back" with clearer and standard alternatives like "expected would be back" or "presumed would return" in formal writing.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: