come back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come back and forth" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something or someone that is going back and forth between two points or places. For example, "Every morning, she comes back and forth from her house to work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"I asked him to come to the table, not assign somebody to come back and forth.

The New York Times

He would come back and forth, and then eventually, when I was in junior high school, we all moved to New York.

Harvard University

"The great moments have come back and forth," Mr. Sirulnick said, "between the daily news organization covering something right now and the longer documentary analysis".

The New York Times

"No one in New York can come back and forth for different treatments when you can do them all in one day and still find it result-oriented," said Dr. Jaliman, who has been offering such a multistep procedure, called "facial rejuvenation," for about a year, at a cost of $3,000.

The New York Times

"My tech team are Slovenian — a couple of them are still based there and come back and forth, and the other is based here — my chief operating officer is a Brazilian, who lived in the U.S., my editor is from the U.S. and our chairman is German," she says.

TechCrunch

So once they go, they stay, because they can no longer come back and forth.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

But there is enough evidence that Mr Netanyahu favours some type of two-state solution that the coming back-and-forth between America and Israel might be more kabuki than genuine argument.

The Economist

They believed that you were always coming back and forth from the unknown to the actual.

The New Yorker

He came back and forth with the wine and lost track of time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Well," he says, in his strangely muffled voice, "we've both been coming back and forth all the time".

Independent

Survivors described how the militants were targeting foreign "white people" during the siege with one woman saying: "They kept coming back and forth into Cappuccino.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come back and forth" to describe recurring movement between two fixed points. For less structured or unpredictable movement, consider "move around" or "wander".

Common error

Avoid using "come back and forth" when describing a single, unidirectional journey. Reserve it for situations where the subject repeatedly returns to the starting point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come back and forth" functions as a verb phrase indicating repeated movement between two locations. It suggests a cyclical or reciprocal action, where something or someone travels between two points and returns.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come back and forth" is a grammatically sound verb phrase indicating repeated movement between two locations. While Ludwig AI states it is correct and usable, it is considered an "Uncommon" expression. It's most frequently found in "News & Media" and academic contexts. When writing, remember that it is best used to describe cyclical movement. Alternatives like "shuttle back and forth" or "move back and forth" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move back and forth

A general term for reciprocal movement.

go back and forth

Similar in meaning, but may imply less regularity.

shuttle back and forth

Emphasizes a regular, often scheduled, movement.

travel to and fro

A more formal or literary way of expressing movement back and forth.

return repeatedly

Highlights the act of coming back multiple times.

alternate

Suggests switching between two states or locations.

commute

Specifically refers to regular travel between home and work.

ply between

Refers to regular travel over a specific route or journey.

oscillate

Implies a rhythmic or wavering movement.

yo-yo

Describes erratic or unstable movement back and forth.

FAQs

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

You can use "come back and forth" to describe a repeated movement between two places or states, for example: "She has to "come back and forth" between the office and the factory several times a day".

What are some alternatives to "come back and forth"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "shuttle back and forth", "travel to and fro", or "move back and forth".

Is it redundant to say "come back and forth"?

While "come" and "back" can sometimes be redundant, in this phrase, ""come back and forth"" emphasizes the repetitive nature of the movement and is widely accepted.

Can I use "go back and forth" instead of "come back and forth"?

Yes, "go back and forth" is often interchangeable with "come back and forth", although "come" might imply movement towards the speaker's location.