changed back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

"changed back and forth" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is changing from one state or form to another and then back again. For example: "The weather in the mountains can change back and forth from sunny to snowy in a single day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Williams played the stand-up position for five games in Houston last season, and in recent years Buffalo's D has changed back and forth from 4-3 to 3-4 the way some people change back and forth from dress shoes to tennis shoes.

The New York Times

Through the summer and early fall, the lead changed back and forth, and CBS/New York Times and Gallup polls showed conflicting results -- at one point in August, Gallup found Mr. Reagan ahead of President Carter by 16 percentage points, yet just two weeks later it registered a dead heat.

The New York Times

The dominant colors have occasionally changed back and forth with changes of the head coach.

Wikipedia

The GISAXS patterns from these films showed no shift when the RH was changed back and forth.

ACS Nano

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Unlike most bi-fuel vehicles, there is no switch to change back and forth between natural gas and gasoline.

The New York Times

But things really didn't change back and forth and he didn't get used to the way they were.

The New Yorker

Even now, regulations change back and forth, tariffs yo-yo, and permission to do something as innocuous as making a new type of sweet can take six months.Business can begin to bloom in Nigeria only when there is less uncertainty.

The Economist

This may lead to the result that the properties of iterative functions change back and forth between the well-posed and non-well-posed states.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

With this new tool, designers can quickly change back and forth between the artboards designers create in the "design" mode and the prototype mode.

TechCrunch

These problems are difficult to isolate and may change back and forth over time.

Clinical interventions in aging

"And there are hats that change back and forth between white and black.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "changed back and forth", ensure the context clearly indicates the two states or conditions between which the subject is alternating. For example, "The project requirements changed back and forth between a focus on cost savings and a focus on innovation."

Common error

Avoid using "changed back and forth" when the change is unidirectional or does not involve a return to a previous state. For example, if a process only improves over time, it doesn't "change back and forth".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "changed back and forth" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as a predicate to describe an action involving repeated alternation between two states, conditions, or options. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "changed back and forth" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe cyclical alteration between two states, conditions, or options. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is valid and usable in English writing. While relatively rare in occurrence, as shown in Ludwig's examples, it effectively conveys fluctuation or instability, commonly appearing in news, scientific, and wiki contexts. For scenarios demanding enhanced clarity or conciseness, alternatives such as “alternated”, “fluctuated”, or “oscillated” may be employed. It's important to remember that this phrase is most suitable when the change involves movement between two specific states, avoiding misuse in unidirectional changes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alternated between

Focuses on the act of switching between two things repeatedly.

shifted between

Indicates a movement from one state or position to another repeatedly.

fluctuated

Highlights the irregular rising and falling of something.

oscillated

Emphasizes a regular back-and-forth movement or variation.

switched repeatedly

Highlights the action of changing something numerous times.

varied

Focuses on the differences occurring at different times.

reverted periodically

Focuses on returning to a previous state at intervals.

seesawed

Implies an alternating rise and fall, like a seesaw.

cycled

Suggests a recurring sequence of changes.

yo-yoed

Emphasizes the up-and-down motion, often implying instability.

FAQs

How can I use "changed back and forth" in a sentence?

Use "changed back and forth" to describe something that alternates between two states or conditions, like "The team's strategy "changed back and forth" depending on the opponent's tactics".

What's a simple way to describe something that "changed back and forth"?

Consider using the word "fluctuated" to describe something that "changed back and forth", as in "The stock price fluctuated throughout the day".

Is it better to say "changed back and forth" or "alternated"?

Both are correct, but "alternated" ("alternated between") may sound more formal and concise depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "changed back and forth" and "changed repeatedly"?

"Changed repeatedly" simply means something changed many times, while "changed back and forth" implies a specific alternation between two states or options. The phrase "changed back and forth" emphasizes the cyclical nature of the changes.