back in states

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back in states" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and may refer to being back in the United States, but it lacks clarity. Example: "After traveling abroad for several months, I am finally back in states and ready to settle down."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Anthem no longer sells Tonik policies, but they could come back in states that waive ACA requirements.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Instead, she has come back in state, to show the town what she has made of herself.

The Guardian - Arts

According to the Center for Governmental Research, based in Rochester, New York City gives Albany $2.6 billion more in taxes a year than it gets back in state funds.

The New York Times

On May 28, when she testified in federal court, she still did not know when she would be back in state court.

The New York Times

Under pressure from the toughest crackdown on illegal immigration in two decades, employers across the country are fighting back in state legislatures, the federal courts and city halls.

The New York Times

By any measure, Mr. Vallone says, Albany treats the city shabbily, taking $3.5 billion more in taxes from the five boroughs than it gives back in state aid.

The New York Times

But the prospect of a reopened state — the lottery operating, 22,000 workers back in state offices, licenses once more being renewed — seemed to eclipse thoughts of how the state will ultimately pay back the new loans.

The New York Times

The mayor pointed out that the city had a higher local tax burden than the state average and that the city paid $2.6 billion a year more in state taxes than it got back in state spending on the city.

The New York Times

Edgar Smith is back in state prison.

Huffington Post

He s not expected to appear back in state court until May 7. @mollyhf.

Los Angeles Times

By November 1967, all of the land was back in the state forests and state game lands.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to individual states, specify which ones. Instead of "back in states", try "back in California and New York".

Common error

Avoid using "back in states" without specifying the exact state or country. This can lead to confusion, especially when communicating with an international audience. Always clarify the location to ensure your message is clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back in states" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating a location or return to a specific place. However, it is grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct in standard written English and lacks clarity. As the provided examples show, it's often used informally to refer to the United States.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase “back in states” might appear in informal contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect and ambiguous. Ludwig AI advises against its use in standard written English due to lack of clarity. It is better to use /s/back+in+the+United+States or /s/returned+to+the+states for more clarity and grammatical correctness. The analyzed sources, though reputable, cannot validate the correctness of this grammatically unsound phrase. Therefore, adopt clearer and more formal alternatives to avoid confusion, particularly in professional or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returned to the states

Uses "returned" instead of "back", providing a more formal tone. The structure remains similar.

back in the United States

Adds "United" for clarity and formality, specifying the country.

arrived back in the states

Emphasizes the arrival aspect of returning, suitable when focusing on the act of reaching the destination.

now in the states

Focuses on the current location, implying a recent change or return.

present in the states

Formal and factual, suitable for official contexts where location needs to be stated clearly.

within state borders

More suitable if talking about regulations, compliance or legal constraints inside one or more states.

domestically

Replaces the original with a single adverb that implies that action happens inside the states of the country.

returning stateside

Uses the informal "stateside" which suggest a return to the United States from abroad, it is more colloquial.

back within the country

Broadens the scope to the entire country, useful when not specifying "states" individually.

back on US soil

More figurative and evocative, emphasizes the physical return to the country, from a foreign location.

FAQs

What's wrong with saying "back in states"?

The phrase "back in states" is grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity. It should be replaced with more precise alternatives such as "back in the United States" or /s/returned+to+the+states depending on the context.

How can I use "back in the United States" in a sentence?

You can say, "After traveling Europe, I'm glad to be back in the United States." Alternatively, you could use phrases like /s/returning+stateside for a more informal tone.

Which is correct, "back in states" or "back in the states"?

"Back in the states" is preferable to "back in states", but it's still better to use /s/back+in+the+United+States for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

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

"Back in the states" implies a current state of being, while /s/returning+to+the+states suggests the action of coming back. The latter emphasizes the journey or process of returning.