be back to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"be back to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to getting back to doing work after a break or interruption. For example, "We took a break for lunch, but now it's time to be back to work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Workers will be back to work on Monday".

The New York Times

In 10 days I'd be back to work.

The New York Times - Magazine

She said she would be back to work next week.

The New York Times

On Monday, for a change, it will be back to work on clay and against Monfils.

The New York Times - Sports

He is going through arbitration and hopes to be back to work by October.

The New York Times

She sent a telegram instead: "Will not be back to work was married yesterday sincerely sorry".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

But then it's back to work.

The New York Times

Then it was back to work.

The New York Times - Sports

And Mr. Sanocki is back to work.

The New York Times

Then it's back to work.

The New Yorker

Rick is back to work.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be back to work" to indicate a return to employment or tasks after a break, illness, or other interruption. For clarity, specify a time frame or context (e.g., "I'll be back to work on Monday").

Common error

Avoid using "be back to work" without clear context. Instead of saying "I'll be back to work soon", provide a specific timeframe like "I'll be back to work next week" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be back to work" primarily functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating a future or conditional state of returning to employment or work-related tasks. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a standard and acceptable use in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

18%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be back to work" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to denote a return to employment or work-related tasks after an absence. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is standard in English. Its versatility allows for use in various contexts, from news reports to casual conversations. When using the phrase, providing a timeframe helps avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "return to work" and "resume working". The phrase is frequently found in News & Media and Sports, and its neutral register makes it appropriate for a wide range of communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

return to work

Focuses on the action of returning to one's job, similar to the query but more concise.

resume working

Highlights the continuation of working after an interruption, emphasizing the action itself.

go back to work

Simple and direct synonym, focusing on the action of returning.

be back on the job

Similar to "get back to the job" but slightly more formal.

get back to the job

Uses a more informal tone and specifies "job" rather than general "work".

start working again

Emphasizes the resumption of working activities.

recommence work

A more formal and less frequently used alternative, indicating a formal restart.

head back to work

Implies a physical return to the workplace.

return to one's duties

Highlights a return to assigned responsibilities, with a formal tone.

pick up where one left off

Idiomatic expression referring to resuming tasks from the point of interruption, which implies a return to work.

FAQs

What does "be back to work" mean?

The phrase "be back to work" means to return to one's job or professional duties after a period of absence, such as a vacation, illness, or temporary leave.

How can I use "be back to work" in a sentence?

You can use "be back to work" in sentences like, "After my vacation, I'll "be back to work" on Monday", or "The construction workers will "be back to work" once the weather improves".

What is a more formal way to say "be back to work"?

A more formal alternative to "be back to work" is "return to one's duties", which is appropriate for professional or official communication.

Which is correct, "be back to work" or "being back to work"?

"Be back to work" is typically used in future tense or conditional statements. "Being back to work" is used as a continuous state, for example, "Being back to work feels good after a long vacation".