going back to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"going back to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when discussing the act of returning to work after some period of time away; for example, "After a long weekend away, I'm looking forward to going back to work tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He's going back to work.

Independent

Khalifa was going back to work.

The New York Times - Sports

"People are going back to work.

The New York Times

I'm going back to work".

The Guardian - Sport

You're going back to work.

The New York Times

Now we're going back to work".

The New York Times - Sports

The next step: going back to work.

The New York Times

I'm going back to work right now.

The Guardian

Did you consider going back to work, Sally?

The New York Times

"I'm glad we're going back to work," he said.

The New York Times

So why is Mr. Paul going back to work?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "going back to work" when the context implies a desire or necessity to return to one's job due to financial needs or career goals.

Common error

Avoid using "going back to work" when you simply mean "going to work" for a regular workday. "Going back to work" implies a return after an absence, not the daily commute.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going back to work" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It often serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the action of returning to one's job or professional activities after a period of absence. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatical.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "going back to work" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the resumption of work activities after a period of absence, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans various contexts, but it is most frequently found in news and media. The phrase carries a neutral tone, suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly implies a return after an absence to avoid confusion with the general act of "going to work". Consider using alternatives like "returning to work" or "resuming work" for nuanced expressions. The abundance of examples provided by Ludwig underlines the versatility and relevance of this phrase in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

returning to work

Emphasizes the action of return to a job or profession, often after a period of absence.

resuming work

Highlights the continuation of work activities after an interruption.

re-entering the workforce

Focuses on the act of joining the working population again, typically after a significant break.

getting back to work

An informal phrasing which focuses on the act of restart working.

reporting back to work

Highlights returning to the workplace.

returning to employment

Emphasizes on return to a new or existing job.

starting back at work

Highlights a new beginning or the initial phase of returning.

back at one's desk

Informal and specific phrase, focuses on the physical act of being back in the office.

ending a career break

Focuses on the conclusion of a pause in one's professional life.

transitioning back to work

Emphasizes the process of readjusting to the work environment.

FAQs

What does "going back to work" mean?

"Going back to work" signifies returning to one's job or professional activities after a period of absence, such as a vacation, illness, or leave of absence.

What can I say instead of "going back to work"?

You can use alternatives like "returning to work", "resuming work", or "re-entering the workforce" depending on the specific context.

Is "going back to work" the same as "going to work"?

No, "going back to work" implies a return after an absence, whereas "going to work" refers to the act of heading to one's job on a regular basis.

How do I use "going back to work" in a sentence?

You can use "going back to work" in a sentence like: "After a long vacation, I am looking forward to "returning to work" next week."