back in session

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back in session" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an activity (usually a scheduled event or meeting) has restarted after a brief period of interruption. For example, "After a break for lunch, the meeting is now back in session."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

School will soon be back in session.

The Economist

They were due back in session Tuesday morning.

The New York Times

On Monday the supreme court is back in session.

The Guardian

Back in session for nearly three weeks, the Senate still has not acted.

The New York Times

(The House is back in session on Jan . 17 the Senate the following week).

The New York Times

Some may not even realize that school is back in session.

The New York Times

Most schools were back in session and the rest were set to open by Monday.

The New York Times

"Well," Dooley (Vincent Dowling) says, "I see Congress is back in session".

The New York Times

Now that many schools are back in session, a pop quiz seems in order.

The New York Times

But in this cycle the caucuses will be on February 1st, when school is back in session.

The New Yorker

That's also why I'm going to fight for this bill when we come back in session in September.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back in session" when referring to the resumption of scheduled activities, meetings, or periods, particularly after a break or recess.

Common error

Avoid using "back in session" for activities that are simply continuing without interruption. It specifically implies a restart after a pause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back in session" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating the resumption of an activity, typically after a scheduled break. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used to denote that something has restarted. The examples provided show its use in contexts like school, court, and Congress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Formal & Business

11%

Science

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "back in session" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate the resumption of scheduled activities after a break. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s prevalent in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you're referring to a genuine restart after an interruption to avoid misapplication. Alternatives like "resumed", "reconvened", or "reopened" may be suitable substitutes depending on the context. It's a neutral phrase that is appropriate for both formal and informal communication, and as demonstrated by the numerous examples provided by Ludwig, its frequency of use is high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resumed

Implies a return to a previous state or activity after an interruption.

reconvened

Specifically refers to a group or assembly meeting again after a break.

reopened

Suggests a return to operation, often used for institutions or businesses.

back to work

Indicates a return to regular work or duties.

classes have started

Specifically refers to the beginning of classes or school after a break.

the court is sitting

Refers to a court being in session to hear cases.

the legislature is sitting

Similar to "the court is sitting", but applied to legislature.

in continuation

General phrase indicating the continuation of something.

is up and running again

Informal way to say something is functioning after a pause.

operations have restarted

Focuses on the resumption of operational activities.

FAQs

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

You can say, "The school is "back in session" after the summer break", or "Congress will be "back in session" next week".

What's an alternative to saying "back in session"?

Depending on the context, you might use alternatives like "resumed", "reconvened", or "reopened".

Is it correct to say "back to session" instead of "back in session"?

No, the correct and idiomatic expression is "back in session". "Back to session" is not a standard English phrase.

When is it appropriate to use "back in session"?

Use "back in session" when referring to the resumption of activities like school, court, or legislative meetings after a break or recess. Avoid using it for things that have not been interrupted.