he was behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'he was behind' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the physical position of a person relative to someone or something else. For example, you could say: "I turned around to find he was behind me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was behind in paying back $28,900.97 in debt.

The New York Times - Magazine

"He was up, he was behind, he wasn't really crisp tonight," Girardi said of Garcia.

The New York Times - Sports

As of Friday morning, he was behind by more than four hundred thousand votes.

The New Yorker

"He served unbelievably well, especially when he was behind," said the Briton.

BBC

Wilder meanwhile made clear he did not think he was behind on points in the fight.

BBC

He was behind in speech.

HuffPost

Pitting us against one another meant that even when he was behind, he was ahead.

Huffington Post

He was behind that.

Independent

He was behind me.

The New York Times - Sports

By 2005 he was behind bars again.

The Economist

He was behind me on points.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was behind" to clearly indicate a position in space or time, or to suggest a degree of culpability or support for an action or event.

Common error

Avoid using "he was behind" when you mean to say "he was the reason". The nuance lies in position versus direct causation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was behind" functions as a predicate, indicating the subject's position, either literally (physical location) or figuratively (progress, support, or responsibility). Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was behind" is a versatile expression with several applications. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it can describe physical position, progress in a task, or support for an initiative. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, reflecting its widespread use in reporting and general communication. While grammatically correct and common, writers should be mindful of the specific context to ensure accurate and nuanced communication. Overall, it's a reliable and practical phrase in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he trailed

Focuses specifically on the action of following behind.

he lagged

Emphasizes being slower or less advanced.

he followed

Highlights the action of coming after someone or something.

he was the cause of

Shifts the meaning to indicate responsibility or origination.

he supported

Highlights the action of providing backing or assistance.

he was responsible for

Places accountability on the subject.

he instigated

Emphasizes the initiation of an event or action.

he was the mastermind of

Implies a central role in planning and executing something.

he was the architect of

Suggests a careful and deliberate design or plan.

he was the driving force behind

Highlights the motivational power behind an action or event.

FAQs

How can I use "he was behind" in a sentence?

You can use "he was behind" to indicate a physical position (He was behind the car), a temporal position (He was behind schedule), or a supporting role (He was behind the project).

What does "he was behind" mean?

The phrase "he was behind" can have multiple meanings depending on the context, including physical placement, lagging in progress, or supporting an idea or cause.

What can I say instead of "he was behind" when referring to physical location?

Instead of "he was behind" in a physical context, you can use phrases like "he trailed" or "he followed".

Is it correct to say "he was behind of"?

No, the correct phrase is "he was behind". The preposition "of" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.