back in school

USAGE SUMMARY

"back in school" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase can be used to express that one is returning to school after a period of absence or vacation. For example: After the summer break, I am looking forward to being back in school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The kids are back in school.

The New York Times - Sports

And the kids are back in school.

The New York Times - Sports

It felt like being back in school.

The New York Times - Magazine

The children are back in school.

The New York Times - Tech

Now she is back in school, studying nursing.

The New York Times

He's fine, he's back in school," she said.

The New Yorker

Kids in Chardon High are back in school.

The New Yorker

But I'm excited to be back in school.

The New York Times

In December of 2011, I found myself back in school.

The New York Times

Yundi was back in school, struggling with her assignments.

The New Yorker

Back in school, Roth continued to look toward the future.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back in school" to indicate a return to an educational setting after a break, vacation, or other absence. It can apply to students of all ages, from elementary school to university.

Common error

Avoid using "back in school" when referring to someone returning to a specific class or lesson within the school day, instead of a longer absence. A more fitting phrase would be "back in class".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back in school" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase. It often modifies a verb, indicating a return to the state or activity of attending school. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct. The phrase provides contextual information about when or where an event takes place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "back in school" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates a return to education after a period of absence. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is used across various contexts, including news, business, and science. This phrase has a neutral tone and conveys a straightforward message, making it suitable for both formal and informal communications. Consider alternatives like "returning to school" for variety. Be mindful not to confuse its usage with specific class returns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returning to school

Emphasizes the action of going back to an educational institution.

enrolled again

Highlights the act of formally registering for studies.

studies resumed

Focuses on the continuation of academic pursuits after a break.

classes have restarted

Highlights that classes have began after a pause.

pursuing education again

Highlights the continuation of academic pursuits after a break.

currently a student

Describes the state of being in education at present.

undertaking studies

Focuses on the act of actively studying.

in formal education

Highlights the structured learning environment.

engaging in academic studies

Focuses on the active participation in studying.

re-entering the educational system

Highlights the act of coming back into education.

FAQs

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

You can use "back in school" to describe a return to studies after a break, such as "After a long summer vacation, the kids are finally "back in school"".

What's the difference between "back to school" and "back in school"?

"Back to school" often refers to the period or preparations for returning to school, while "back in school" describes the state of being a student again.

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

Alternatives include "returning to school", "enrolled again", or "studies resumed" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "back in the school" instead of "back in school"?

While grammatically possible, "back in the school" is less common and typically used when referring to a specific school building or institution, whereas "back in school" is a more general reference to being a student again.