backing her up

USAGE SUMMARY

"backing her up" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it when you are talking about someone helping, supporting, or defending another person. For example: His friends were all standing behind him, backing her up in her decision.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

And I'll be backing her up".

The New York Times

I had sharp elbows". She also worked incredibly hard and had good people backing her up, she adds.

Cornell University

Rufus reunites Chaka Khan's 1970's band, backing her up in songs like "Tell Me Something Good" with a funk-rock hybrid that has been imitated ever since.

The New York Times

She had a firm grasp of parliamentary procedure, an energetic research team backing her up, a sharp sense of humour and an even sharper tongue in debate.

The Guardian - Opinion

(At all times, the dancers backing her up execute Trujillo's exhilarating steps with sinewy pizzazz). Dinelaris does a fine job, showing us the adaptability and business acumen of Segarra's Cuban-born, English-mangling Emilio, as he and Gloria set out to prove the experts wrong and expand their pop cultural reach well beyond their Latin-American base.

The Washington Post

The photograph of herself alone on the album cover, without a cluster of men backing her up, "makes me cringe", and she's clearly nervous about whether she can play live, as she currently intends, without the Pretenders' back catalogue as a safety net.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

(The Spook backs her up on this).

The New Yorker

Her doctor backed her up with a thorough letter of his own.

The New York Times - Health

During the ensuing days, in Colombia, Cabinet officials & a former president backed her up.

The New Yorker

"One of the ladies present announced gravely, 'I never travel by train.' " Another guest backed her up: "Nor do I".

The New York Times - Books

"She's got enough people to back her up," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "backing her up" when you want to emphasize active support or reinforcement of someone's actions, decisions, or statements. It suggests more than just agreement; it implies active assistance.

Common error

While "backing her up" is widely understood, it can sound informal in highly professional or academic settings. Opt for alternatives like "supporting her position" or "endorsing her claims" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "backing her up" functions as a verb phrase indicating support or reinforcement. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts, from personal relationships to professional endorsements. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

4%

Unknown/unmatched

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "backing her up" is a common and generally accepted way to express support or reinforcement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While suitable for many contexts, including news and media, it might be perceived as informal in highly professional or academic settings. Consider alternatives like "supporting her" or "endorsing her" for a more polished tone in such cases. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, reflecting its widespread use in everyday language. Remember to use "backing her up" when you want to emphasize active support, implying more than just agreement—active assistance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

supporting her

This alternative is a more general term for providing assistance and encouragement.

standing by her

This emphasizes loyalty and unwavering support during a difficult time.

endorsing her

This suggests a more formal approval or agreement with her actions or statements.

aiding her

This focuses on providing help or assistance to her.

defending her

This focuses on protecting her from criticism or attack.

reinforcing her

This implies strengthening her position or argument.

seconding her

This indicates formal agreement, often in a meeting or debate context.

vouching for her

This suggests attesting to her character or abilities.

championing her

This conveys actively promoting and advocating for her.

substantiating her claims

This means providing evidence or proof to support her statements.

FAQs

What does "backing her up" mean?

The phrase "backing her up" means to support, assist, or defend someone. It implies actively reinforcing their position or actions.

What can I say instead of "backing her up"?

You can use alternatives like "supporting her", "endorsing her", or "standing by her" depending on the specific context.

Is "backing her up" formal or informal?

The phrase "backing her up" is generally considered informal. In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "supporting her position" or "endorsing her claims".

How to use "backing her up" in a sentence?

You can use "backing her up" in a sentence like: "Her colleagues were all present at the meeting, each of them ready to start backing her up if she felt cornered by the CEO questions".