back in march

USAGE SUMMARY

'back in March' is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is used to denote a time in the past when a particular event or occurrence took place. For example, "I first met my wife back in March of 2009."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

#deletefacebook" back in March.

MIT Technology Review

I'll start back in March.

The Guardian - Opinion

This was back in March.

The Guardian

Her patients trickled back in March.

The New York Times

To qualify for the Olympics, Williams came back in March.

The New York Times - Sports

The attack followed another one on tourists back in March.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Check back in November.

The New York Times

Back in July.

The New York Times - Arts

Come back in September.

The New York Times

This was back in January.

The New York Times - Magazine

will be back in December.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back in March" to clearly indicate that you are referring to a specific March in the past, especially when the context involves multiple years or events. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "back in March" when referring to future events. This phrase specifically refers to something that happened in the past. For future events, use phrases like "in March" or "next March".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back in March" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an action or event occurred. It modifies the verb in the sentence by providing temporal context. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage, showcasing its role in situating events within a particular timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "back in March" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that specifies a past time. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use and the high frequency of this phrase across various news and media outlets. It is crucial to use "back in March" to create clarity when referring to an event that occurred in a previous March, differentiating it from future occurrences. When writing, remember to avoid using this phrase for future events. Instead, use "in March" or "next March". Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide array of writing styles, though mostly encountered in news and media. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its consistent application and the importance of temporal clarity in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that March

Refers to a specific March previously mentioned or understood.

during March

Indicates an event occurred at some point within the month of March.

on that March

Refers to a certain day in March that was mentioned before.

during the month of March

Emphasizes the entire month of March as the period in question.

in March of that year

Specifies a particular March within a broader timeframe, adding more detail.

earlier that March

Highlights that the event happened early in the month of March.

in early March

Highlights the beginning of March as the relevant timeframe.

in late March

Highlights the end of March as the relevant timeframe.

in the March prior

Indicates March of the year before a certain event.

around March

Specifies an approximate timeframe near the month of March.

FAQs

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

Use "back in March" to refer to something that occurred during the month of March in a previous year. For example, "The company announced its new strategy "back in March"".

What is a similar phrase to "back in March"?

Similar phrases include "during March", "that March", or "in March of that year", all indicating a past event within the specified month.

When is it appropriate to use "back in March" instead of simply "in March"?

Use "back in March" when the context requires clarification that you are referring to a March in the past, as opposed to the upcoming March or a general reference to the month. If it's obvious you're speaking about a past March from context, "in March" suffices.

Is it correct to say "back in March 2024"?

Yes, it's perfectly correct and often helpful to specify the year to avoid ambiguity, especially if you are discussing events over multiple years. Using "back in March 2024" provides a clearer timeline.