collections back to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collections back to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to retrieving or referencing collections from a previous time or source, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The museum has collections back to the 18th century, showcasing art from that era."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The song has a long and profound history, apparently most likely referring to early fur trappers using the river road to bring their collections back to what passed for civilisation.

The Guardian - Music

The councillor said he had developed an action plan, alongside cabinet member for Streetscene Lesley Rennie, to get collections back to normal.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Donatella Versace brought her Atelier Versace collection back to Paris with panache.

The New York Times

(The shipping crates that carried the collection back to New York cost more than the art itself).

The New York Times - Arts

That meant taut jackets and slightly looser pants, but nothing to take this luxurious collection back to the hippie era.

The New York Times

He traces his bar collection back to a visit to London in his early 20s nursing a broken heart.

The Guardian

The article was also amended to clarify the following sentence: Napoleon shipped the whole collection back to Paris in 1810.

The Guardian

Ms. Burton, who brought the Alexander McQueen collection back to London this season, understands the importance of subverting the Savile Row look to make it modern.

The New York Times

She followed it with a second collection, "Back to the Human," and in 1949 was awarded the Baumgarten Prize, one of Hungary's most prestigious literary awards.

The New Yorker

"I am happy that for the first time we are lending pieces from our collection back to the region," said Regine Schulz, director of the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim, Germany, home to one of the largest collections of Egyptian art.

The New York Times

"I'm trying to pull the collection back to things I really like … I think this is the most environmental thing we can do … I only need to make the clothes I like.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, replace the phrase with grammatically correct alternatives like "collections dating back to" or "returning the collections to".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase as it sounds unnatural. Instead, specify the origin or destination more clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collections back to" functions as a prepositional phrase attempting to specify a temporal or spatial reference for a collection. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically awkward and not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "collections back to" is identified by Ludwig as grammatically incorrect and awkward. While it appears in some contexts like News & Media and Science, its usage is infrequent. For clarity and correctness, it is recommended to use alternatives such as "collections dating back to" or "returning the collections to". These options provide a more precise and grammatically sound way to express the intended meaning, aligning with best practices in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collections dating back to

Emphasizes the historical period from which the collections originate.

collections returning to

Focuses on the action of the collections being brought back.

collections traced back to

Highlights the process of discovering the collections' origins.

bringing the collections back to

Specifies the act of physically returning the collections.

restoring the collections to

Implies returning the collections to a previous state or location.

returning the collections to

A more direct way of saying collections are being brought back.

collections originating from

Focuses on the place where the collections started.

collections from

A simple way to indicate the source or origin of the collections.

collections housed back in

Highlights where the collections are stored at the present time.

getting the collections back to

Suggests an effort to return collections to a desired place or state.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "collections back to"?

Instead of "collections back to", consider using phrases like "collections dating back to", "collections returning to", or "returning the collections to" for clearer communication.

How can I specify the origin of a collection more clearly?

To clearly indicate where a collection comes from, use phrases like "collections from" or "collections originating from" followed by the place or time period.

Is "collections back to" grammatically correct?

The phrase "collections back to" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use more precise language to convey your intended meaning, such as "collections dating back to".

What is the difference between "collections back to" and "collections dating back to"?

"Collections dating back to" specifies a time period when the collections originated, whereas "collections back to" is vague and does not clearly convey the same meaning. The former is more grammatically sound and precise.