has returned to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"has returned to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who has come back to their job after an absence. For example, "John has returned to work after his vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

(He weathered the D.W.I. arrest and has returned to work).

The New York Times

Her husband has returned to work in Fort McMurray, staying in a trailer with friends.

The Guardian

To that end, she has returned to work at a Starbucks in Midtown Manhattan.

The New York Times

Mr. Geyer was not hurt seriously and has returned to work.

The New York Times

Rachel is completely back to normal and has returned to work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She has returned to work but can no longer lift heavy items with that arm.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Karen is rivalled by Jenny, who has returned to working to pay the bills while Pete is living elsewhere.

Wikipedia

She had returned to work that week.

The Guardian

Kristina, who had recently given birth, had returned to work.

The New Yorker

Two have returned to work and four left the company.

Independent

She said the employee had returned to work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has returned to work" when you want to clearly state that someone is back to their job or professional duties after an absence due to illness, leave, or other reasons.

Common error

Avoid using "had returned to work" when you simply mean someone is currently back at work. "Had returned" implies a past perfect tense, indicating the return happened before another past action. For example, use "He has returned to work this week" instead of "He had returned to work this week, before the project started".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has returned to work" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of resuming one's job or professional duties after a period of absence. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. This phrase often serves to inform or update someone about a person's current employment status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has returned to work" is a commonly used and grammatically correct verb phrase that describes the action of resuming employment after an absence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s versatile enough to be used in news reports, formal announcements, and casual conversations. The phrase’s register is generally neutral, suitable for a variety of contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, confirming its wide applicability in reporting on people's professional status and work lives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is back at work

This alternative uses simpler vocabulary to convey the same meaning.

has resumed working

This alternative emphasizes the continuation of work after an interruption.

has gone back to work

This alternative is more colloquial and emphasizes the action of returning.

is working again

This alternative highlights the act of working after a break.

has recommenced employment

This is a more formal way of saying someone has returned to work.

has rejoined the workforce

This phrase emphasizes the person's re-entry into the overall labor market.

has taken up duties again

Focuses on the resumption of specific responsibilities.

is back in the office

This alternative is more specific, implying an office setting.

has ended their leave

Focuses on the termination of a leave period, implying a return to work.

is no longer on leave

Directly states the end of a leave period, suggesting a return to normal duties.

FAQs

What does "has returned to work" mean?

The phrase "has returned to work" means that someone who was previously absent from their job or professional duties is now back to working.

When is it appropriate to use "has returned to work" in a sentence?

Use "has returned to work" when you want to convey that someone is currently back at their job after a period of absence, such as after an illness, vacation, or leave of absence. For example: "She "has returned to work" after her maternity leave."

What are some alternative ways to say "has returned to work"?

You can use alternatives such as "is back at work", "has resumed working", or "has gone back to work" to express a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "has returned to work" and "had returned to work"?

Yes, "has returned to work" (present perfect) indicates that someone is currently back at work, while "had returned to work" (past perfect) indicates that someone returned to work at some point in the past, before another past event. The sentence "She "has returned to work"" focuses on the person's current status. The sentence "She had returned to work before the project started" focuses on the time sequence.