far back

USAGE SUMMARY

"far back" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time in the past which was quite a long time ago. Example: I remember when my grandfather used to tell me stories about his childhood, far back in the 1920s.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I was so far back".

The New York Times - Sports

It goes that far back.

The New York Times - Sports

Probably too far back.

The Guardian - Sport

How far back?

The New Yorker

This sets us so far back".

The New York Times

How far back does that relationship go?

The New Yorker

My thought wandered back — far back.

The New Yorker

How far back do I turn it?

The New Yorker

It could be far back".

The New York Times

How far back to go?

The New York Times

"I made this decision far back.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far back" to emphasize the distance in time or space, creating a sense of remoteness or recalling something from a distant past.

Common error

Avoid using "far back" when referring to recent events or timeframes. This phrase is best suited for events or periods that are significantly removed from the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far back" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate distance in time or space. Ludwig examples show its use in specifying how distant something is, both temporally and spatially.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

12%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far back" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to denote distance in time or space. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media. When using "far back", consider the temporal context to avoid misapplication to recent events. Alternatives like "long ago" or "in the distant past" can be employed for stylistic variation. Remember to use it to effectively create a sense of remoteness and to make your writing more engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long ago

Indicates a time considerably distant in the past, emphasizing the elapsed time.

a long time ago

Similar to "long ago", but more conversational.

in the distant past

More formal and emphasizes the remoteness of the time period.

in former times

Formal and refers to previous eras or periods.

way back when

Informal way of referring to a time far in the past.

in bygone days

Refers to a past era that is characterized by nostalgia or sentimentality.

in antiquity

Specifically references ancient times, often pre-Roman or pre-Greek.

in days of yore

Poetic and antiquated way of referring to the past.

previously

Indicates something that occurred before the present moment.

earlier on

Refers to a point in time before the current one.

FAQs

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

You can use "far back" to indicate a point in time or a position that is distant or remote. For example, "My memories of that time go "far back"" or "The house is "far back" from the road".

What are some alternatives to using "far back"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "long ago", "in the distant past", or "previously".

Is it correct to say "very far back"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. Adding "very" intensifies the degree of distance, whether in time or space. For instance, "That event happened "very far back" in history".

What does it mean when someone says, "It goes far back"?

This phrase typically means that something has a long history or origin. For example, "Our friendship goes "far back"", meaning the friendship started a long time ago.