course back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "course back and forth" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "course back and forth"? If this is the case, you can use it to describe a movement or action that alternates in two directions, often used in contexts like discussions or physical movement. Example: "The debate seemed to course back and forth, with each side presenting compelling arguments."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In a running theme, Coppola depicts herself as torn between impulses, often correcting course back and forth between two poles.

The New York Times - Books

Participants ran the 18-meter course back and forth, starting at a speed of 7.2 km/h.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They both continually show currents passing through the torso — rising vertically from the pelvis, coursing back and forth from shoulder to shoulder, tilting sideways and rotating along the vertical axis of the spine.

The New York Times - Arts

Shoals of aerial plankton drifted in sunny spots near the Tennis House, where hundreds of dragonflies were coursing back and forth, engaged in a feeding frenzy, while midges danced like dust motes in the slanting light.

The New Yorker

Paul Newman's anguish — Rooney knows that his grownup son is infantile and savage and that he can't control him — courses back and forth between rage and sorrow but finally gets projected into the air, without response.

The New Yorker

The swift capture of Mosul by militants aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria has underscored how the conflicts in Syria and Iraq have converged into one widening regional insurgency with fighters coursing back and forth through the porous border between the two countries.

The New York Times

Jointly discovering such opportunities through the course of back-and-forth conversation makes it less likely that a client will react defensively to something he perhaps should have already known and more likely that he will embrace both the opportunities — and the messenger that helped to uncover them.

Harvard Business Review

Unlike in so many debates on the Web, the gap between Ross Douthat and me has narrowed considerably in the course of our back-and-forth.

The New Yorker

By Ryan Lizza September 2, 2011 Unlike in so many debates on the Web, the gap between Ross Douthat and me has narrowed considerably in the course of our back-and-forth.

The New Yorker

In feeding, swifts course tirelessly back and forth, capturing insects with their large mouths open.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Another joy of the show was of course the back and forth between Tony and Dr Melfi, her calm, measured tone a match for his rage, confusion and unease at discussing the feelings opened up by her "psychiatry shit".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing movement or actions that alternate in two directions, consider using more common and grammatically sound alternatives such as "move back and forth" or "shuttle back and forth" instead of "course back and forth".

Common error

Avoid combining 'course' with explicit directional adverbs like "back and forth" when describing simple movement. 'Course' typically implies a path or route, so using it with directional terms can create awkward phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "course back and forth" attempts to describe movement or fluctuation between two points. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase isn't grammatically correct, which impacts its effectiveness in formal communication. The examples provided by Ludwig show its usage in various contexts, although infrequent.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "course back and forth" appears in some published sources, it is generally considered grammatically questionable. Ludwig AI identifies it as potentially incorrect. More acceptable alternatives like "move back and forth" or "shuttle back and forth" are preferred. The phrase aims to describe an alternating movement or state, and its usage is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. Therefore, consider using more standard phrasing to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shuttle back and forth

Emphasizes repeated movement between two points, often suggesting transportation or transfer.

move to and fro

Replaces 'course' with 'move' and 'back and forth' with the more archaic 'to and fro', indicating a simple oscillation.

oscillate

A more technical term indicating a regular back and forth movement or fluctuation.

reciprocate

Implies a mutual exchange or back and forth action between two parties or entities.

fluctuate

Suggests a wavering or unsteady movement or change, often in a non-physical context like prices or opinions.

ebb and flow

Used to describe a cyclical rise and fall, often in abstract contexts like emotions or trends.

alternate

Indicates a sequence of one thing followed by another, implying a regular switch between two states or actions.

seesaw

Suggests an alternating rise and fall, like a playground seesaw, often used metaphorically for changing fortunes.

waver

Suggests indecision or instability, a back and forth movement between choices or positions.

yo-yo

Similar to 'seesaw' but implies a more rapid and perhaps unpredictable alternation.

FAQs

Is "course back and forth" grammatically correct?

While sometimes used, "course back and forth" is not considered standard English. It's better to use phrases like "move "move back and forth"" or "shuttle "shuttle back and forth"".

What does "course back and forth" mean?

The intended meaning is to describe movement or action that alternates in two directions. However, the phrasing is unusual. A clearer way to express this is to say something "moves "moves back and forth"".

Are there alternatives to "course back and forth"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "move "move back and forth"", "shuttle "shuttle back and forth"", or "oscillate" depending on the specific context.

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

You could say, "The pendulum moved "moved back and forth"," or "Negotiations moved "moved back and forth" between the two parties."