flying back

USAGE SUMMARY

"flying back" is a correct usage in written English.
Example sentence: I arrived home late last night after flying back from my business trip.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'm flying back from Montreal".

The New Yorker

Suddenly, stones started flying back and forth.

The New Yorker

You were flying back and forth.

The New York Times

She is flying back home.

The New Yorker

"I'm flying back out there next month.

The Guardian - Film

Lawsuits have been flying back and forth.

The New York Times

"There were planes flying back and forth".

The New York Times

"Flying there, flying back here then back again.

The New York Times - Sports

The next day, he was flying back to Bari.

The New Yorker

This year I'm flying back to the US.

Independent

I'd be flying back, too, in two weeks.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a return journey by plane, "flying back" provides a concise and clear way to express the action. Use it to maintain brevity and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Ensure that the context makes it clear who is "flying back". If it's unclear, specify the subject to avoid confusion, for example use "the team is flying back" instead of just "flying back".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flying back" functions primarily as a gerund phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to describe the action of returning to a place by airplane. Ludwig provides numerous examples across various sources demonstrating its correct grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

11%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flying back" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe the action of returning to a place by airplane. According to Ludwig, its versatility is evident in its appearance across various contexts, from news reports to personal anecdotes. While predominantly neutral in register, it can seamlessly fit into both formal and informal communication, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or scientific writing. With Ludwig's confirmation of its correct usage, you can confidently employ this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returning by plane

Focuses on the mode of transport and the act of returning.

traveling back by air

Emphasizes the journey and the aerial aspect of the return.

heading back on a flight

Highlights the action of going back and specifies the means of transport.

returning via airplane

Specifies the exact mode of transportation for the return journey.

making a return flight

Highlights that the travel has already started.

commuting back by air

Suitable when the journey occurs regularly between work and home.

journeying back on an aircraft

Emphasizes the distance and the type of vehicle used.

airborne return

Short and formal that emphasize means of transportation and act of going back.

repatriating by air

Highlights that the travel is back to the country.

air returning

Focuses on the aerial aspect and the action of returning.

FAQs

How to use "flying back" in a sentence?

You can use "flying back" to describe someone's return journey by plane, such as "I'm "flying back" home tomorrow" or "The team is "flying back" after the game".

What can I say instead of "flying back"?

You can use alternatives like "returning by plane", "heading back on a flight", or "traveling back by air" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "flying back" formal or informal?

"Flying back" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality often depends more on the surrounding language than the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "flying back" and "returning by air"?

"Flying back" is a more direct and commonly used phrase, while "returning by air" is slightly more formal. The choice depends on the desired tone and audience.