back in July

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back in July" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific time in the past, indicating that something occurred during the month of July. Example: "We had a great vacation back in July when we visited the beach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Back in July.

The New York Times - Arts

She came back in July.

Independent

The results came back in July.

The New York Times

They had no choice back in July.

The Guardian

I made them back in July.

The Guardian

But that was all back in July.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Check back in November.

The New York Times

Come back in September.

The New York Times

This was back in January.

The New York Times - Magazine

will be back in December.

Independent

They moved back in April.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back in July" to create a sense of temporal distance or to emphasize that a past event is relevant to the current context. It works well when setting the stage for a narrative or explaining a sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "back in July" with future tense verbs. The phrase refers to a completed past event, so ensure the verb tense reflects this. For example, instead of "We will go back in July", use "We went back in July".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back in July" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event occurred. It provides temporal context to the action described in the sentence, indicating that something took place during the month of July in a previous year. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "back in July" is a grammatically sound and frequently used way to refer to events that occurred during the month of July in a past year. As Ludwig AI highlighted, the phrase primarily functions as an adverbial phrase of time, offering temporal context within a sentence. Its neutral register and common usage across news sources, scientific articles, and general contexts make it versatile for various forms of communication. Remembering to maintain tense consistency and using it to set a temporal stage effectively are key to utilizing "back in July" correctly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in July

Omits the "back" emphasizing the month directly.

during July

Replaces "in" with "during", focusing on the duration throughout the month.

that July

Uses "that" to specify a particular July already mentioned or understood.

the July before

Indicates the July immediately preceding a specific event or time.

July of that year

Provides a more formal way to specify the month and year.

earlier that July

Highlights an event that occurred at the start of July.

the previous July

Refers to July of the year before a specific reference point.

July of last year

Explicitly specifies July of the immediately preceding year.

at the beginning of July

Focuses on the initial part of July.

in the summer

Refers to the summer season when July occurs. This has broader meaning.

FAQs

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

You can use "back in July" to refer to a past event that occurred during the month of July. For example, "Back in July, we went on vacation to Hawaii".

What's the difference between "in July" and "back in July"?

"In July" simply indicates that something happened during the month of July. "Back in July" often implies a sense of recalling a past event, adding a touch of nostalgia or emphasis that the event is in the past.

What can I say instead of "back in July"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "during July", "that July", or "the July before".

Is it correct to say "back in July of last year"?

Yes, saying "back in July of last year" is grammatically correct and clarifies which July you are referring to, particularly if there's potential ambiguity. It's more emphatic than just saying "in July".