devolved back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devolved back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a process of returning authority or responsibility to a lower level of government or organization. Example: "After the recent reforms, power was devolved back to the local councils, allowing them to make decisions that better reflect the needs of their communities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But the conversation devolved back inward to ourselves as biological machines.

The New York Times - Science

In the third branch, after rescuing Mikhail from Two's stronghold, the dragon is devolved back to its child form by Two's powers.

Wikipedia

As far as I can tell, it's about a human being who wanders across an alien and inhospitable Dune-like planet with weird mutant animals and humans who have devolved back to monkeys and everything is gross and scary.

Vice

Although this JFS-led initiappearedpeared to have reached a consensus on 17 December, it soon devolved back into negotiations when the Chinese Uighur-led Al-Qaeda front group, the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP), was revealed as a new potential member.

Huffington Post

Nevertheless I think it might be said that it is such idealism, whether it be of the right or the left, that is at the root of all human progress and that if we ever succumb to the kind of survival-of-the-fittest realism that characterizes humanity's evolutionary past, we will have, in the end, find ourselves having "devolved" back to the pre-human level of our primate ancestors.

Huffington Post

Specialist centres were used exclusively for the delivery of radiotherapy but the continuous follow-up of these patients devolved back to district hospitals.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Power needs devolving back to local government with all the problems this will entail for equity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Each individual shot's success rate will still devolve back to the player's career shooting percentage.

The New York Times

For now, one can only hope that this new incarnation of Hollande endures, and that he doesn't devolve back into a spongy French pudding while his country, politically as well as economically, is at its most fragile.

Independent

In the meantime, platform operations would be devolving back to Tokyo.

TechCrunch

I suppose it was because I wasn't thinking, just devolving back into my former self.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devolved back" when referring to a specific return of power, authority, or responsibility to a lower level or original source. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being returned and from where.

Common error

Avoid using "devolved back" when the intent is simply to transfer something without implying a return to a previous state or authority. Simple transfer can often be better phrased using alternatives like "transferred" or "shifted".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devolved back" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often used in political and organizational contexts. Ludwig AI shows that it describes the action of returning authority or responsibility to a previous level or entity. It indicates a reversal of centralization.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devolved back" is a grammatically correct verb phrase that describes the act of returning power, authority, or responsibility to a previous level or entity. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, the phrase finds its primary usage in news and media, science, and wiki contexts. When using "devolved back", ensure that the context clarifies what is being returned and from where. Alternative phrasings, such as "reverted to" or "returned to", may offer suitable substitutes depending on the specific nuance intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reverted to

Emphasizes a return to a former condition or practice.

returned to

A straightforward expression indicating a return to a prior state or location.

shifted back

Suggests a movement or change in direction back towards an original position.

relinquished back to

Implies a formal giving up of something to its original owner or source.

ceded back to

Similar to relinquished, but often used in the context of power or territory.

passed back to

Highlights the act of transferring something, like responsibility, to someone else.

restored to

Focuses on bringing something back to a former, often better, condition.

transferred back

A general term for moving something back to a previous location or owner.

handed back

Suggests a direct and often informal return of something.

conveyed back

Implies a more formal or official transfer back.

FAQs

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

You can use "devolved back" to describe the act of returning power, duties, or rights to a previous holder. For instance, "After years of central control, certain responsibilities were "returned to" the local councils and "devolved back" to the state level".

What are some alternatives to "devolved back"?

Alternatives include "reverted to", "returned to", or "shifted back", each carrying slightly different nuances depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "devolved back to" or should I use a different preposition?

"Devolved back to" is generally correct when indicating where the power or responsibility is being returned. You could also use "devolved back upon" or "devolved back on" depending on the specific situation and nuance you wish to convey, but "devolved back to" is the most common usage.

What's the difference between "devolved" and "devolved back"?

"Devolved" means to transfer power or responsibility to a lower level. "Devolved back" specifically implies a return of that power or responsibility to a previous holder or level after it had been taken away or centralized.