back to states

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "back to states" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.
It may be used in contexts discussing a return to specific states or conditions, but it requires additional context to be meaningful. Example: "After the meeting, we will go back to states of normalcy in our operations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Getting rid of programs, turning programs back to states and, finally, making government itself more efficient.

The New York Times

Nash, to Labor senator Jan McLucas, (who is struggling to comprehend why the government wants to push management responsibility back to states, while cutting funds).

The Guardian

"Those three things — making government simpler, smaller and smarter — mean getting rid of programs, turning programs back to states, and finally making government itself more efficient," Mr. Romney explained.

The New York Times

The bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act, which President Obama signed into law in December 2015, introduced new restrictions on the education secretary and handed more authority back to states and school districts.

The Washington Post

As strategists for Mr. Obama eyed intensifying their efforts in Georgia, North Dakota and West Virginia, Republican advisers were trimming their efforts back to states won by Mr. Bush in 2004 and hoping for the best elsewhere.

The New York Times

"I felt like I was not living up to my potential," Trump told Dr. Oz. Graham-Cassidy is not perfect, but it creates a competition of ideas and gives power back to states.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

None want to go back to state socialism.

The New York Times

It also knocks the ball back to state courts".

The New York Times

He has said that the issue should be thrown back to state legislatures.

The New York Times

Brexit will mean a Tory party taking Britain back to state intervention by the back door.

The Guardian - Opinion

But last week, a federal judge rebuffed the attempt and sent the case back to state court.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "back to states", ensure clarity by specifying what exactly is being returned, transferred, or restored. Provide context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "back to states" without clearly defining the subject being returned. This can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. Instead be sure to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back to states" functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier. Ludwig examples show it describing the direction of a transfer, return, or shift of power, control, or responsibility. It indicates where something is being moved or restored.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "back to states" signifies a return or transfer of something—typically power, control, or resources—to individual state governments. While commonly used, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and lacking clarity without sufficient context. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, followed by formal business and scientific contexts. For improved clarity, consider alternatives like "return to states", "revert to states", or "give back to states". When using "back to states", providing explicit context to clarify what is being returned or transferred is essential.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

return to states

Synonymous replacement. Instead of moving something back, this option describes how the subject returns on its own to the prior mentioned subject.

revert to states

Instead of a simple movement, the option can be useful to express a default change or a process to reverse a transformation.

restore to states

The focus shifts from returning to re-establishing something to its original condition.

give back to states

This alternative emphasizes the action of returning something that was previously taken away.

transfer back to states

This option emphasizes on the transfer of responsibility, ownership, or control.

cede back to states

Focus on giving up something, like territory or power, and implies a formal relinquishing of control.

devolve to states

Describes decentralizing power or responsibility and implies a top-down distribution of authority.

relinquish to states

The alternative shares a transfer of authority, but with an emphasis to voluntarily give up the ownership.

remand to states

Emphasizes a legal or official return to a previous jurisdiction.

hand back to states

This option shares a transfer, specifically from a third party to the prior subject, emphasizing on the act to deliver it.

FAQs

What does "back to states" generally refer to?

The phrase "back to states" typically refers to a process of returning control, authority, or responsibilities from a central entity (often the federal government) to individual state governments. It can also describe a return to a previous condition or location within states.

When might someone want to shift something "back to states"?

Shifting control "back to states" is often proposed when there's a desire for more localized control, greater responsiveness to local needs, or a belief that state governments are better equipped to handle specific issues than a centralized authority.

What are some alternative ways to say "back to states"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "return to states", "revert to states", "give back to states", or "transfer back to states" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "back to states" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "back to states" can be vague and lacks clarity. It's crucial to specify what exactly is being returned or transferred to the states for the sentence to be grammatically correct and semantically precise. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.