collecting back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collecting back" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where one is referring to the act of retrieving or gathering something that was previously given or distributed. Example: "After the event, we will be collecting back the materials we provided to the participants."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The I.R.S. has a few ways of collecting back taxes: garnisheeing wages, for example, or putting tax liens on property.

The New York Times

Problems in collecting back taxes have cost Bridgeport more than $25 million since the mid-1980's.

The New York Times

Mr. Lance was sanguine, too, about the prospect of collecting back taxes from the late 1990's, when the state was enjoying a surge in personal incomes.

The New York Times

"Post pop" means art obsessed with commodities, glamour and high impact – the kind of art Charles Saatchi became famous for collecting back in the day.

The Guardian - Arts

As for the shirts with memories for me, I have old Kiss T-shirts that I'm partial to, because Kiss was the band that got me into collecting back in the '70s.

The New York Times - Magazine

"There's a question around what would be a central, universal UI, like an atom we could attach to every object to indicate, let's say, if it's taking information it's collecting back to some location.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Most English football fans will be unaware that, in the fledging days of a managerial career that began in 2006, the 47-year-old scouser became something of an expert in the field of winning finals, collecting back-to-back FAI Cups and the Irish League Cup in little over a calender year with fairly unfashionable Sligo Rovers.

The Guardian - Sport

Fig. 8 SEM images obtained with a primary electron energy of 30 keV and also collecting back-scattered electrons from a a polished AM50 substrate surface and b a laser-treated AM50 surface Fig. 9 XPS results obtained for a the C1 s, b the O1 s, c the Mg2p, and d the survey regions when investigating a polished AM50 surface (a) or a laser-treated surface (b).

Applied Adhesion Science

Aon, a giant insurance broker, had to move a $90m reinsurance collectible that it feared it would not collect back into last year's results.

The Economist

And yes, if people cannot afford it, we do not collect back what they owe.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pumping out is difficult because some of the water just collected back".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "collecting back" is understandable, consider using stronger verbs like "retrieving" or "recovering" for greater precision and impact. For example, instead of "collecting back data", try "retrieving data".

Common error

Avoid using "collecting back" when "collecting" alone suffices. The word "back" is often unnecessary and can make your writing sound less professional. Just use the term "collecting" unless there is special emphasis on the action of going "back" to "collect".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collecting back" functions as a verb phrase, typically used within a sentence to describe the action of retrieving or gathering something that was previously distributed or given away. Ludwig AI shows its usage in contexts such as taxes, rent, or data, which implies a process of regaining something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "collecting back" is generally understandable, it is often considered redundant. Ludwig AI provides a variety of examples demonstrating its use across different sources, but also signals that it is not standard. As such, it's better to consider more precise alternatives such as "retrieving", "recovering", or simply "collecting" in many contexts. The phrase has been most frequently used in news and scientific contexts, and it could be considered neutral in register. While acceptability is not debated, writers must consider alternatives for greater clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

getting back

A general term for retrieving something.

retrieving

Focuses on the act of getting something back, emphasizing the return of an item.

gathering again

Highlights the re-collection of items, implying a second or repeated collection.

recovering

Suggests regaining something lost or previously unavailable.

reclaiming

Implies asserting a right to get something back, often with a sense of ownership.

taking back

A more direct and forceful way of saying getting something back, often used in assertive contexts.

reacquiring

Indicates gaining possession of something again.

obtaining return of

A formal way of expressing the act of getting something returned.

recouping

Focuses on recovering something, often money or resources, that was spent or lost.

calling back

Implies requesting the return of something, often a loan or item.

FAQs

How can I use "collecting back" in a sentence?

You can use "collecting back" when you want to emphasize the act of retrieving something that was previously given or distributed. However, consider alternatives like "retrieving" or "gathering again" for clearer communication.

What's a better way to say "collecting back"?

Alternatives to "collecting back" include "recovering", "reclaiming", or simply "collecting", depending on the context. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "collecting back" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "collecting back" can be considered redundant. It is often better to use a single word like "retrieving" or simply "collecting" for more concise and grammatically sound writing.

When should I use "collecting back" instead of just "collecting"?

Use "collecting back" when you want to specifically emphasize the return aspect of the collection process. For example, if you are talking about "collecting back taxes", where the taxes were previously due but not paid.