long time back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long time back" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a past event or time that occurred a significant amount of time ago. Example: "Long time back, when I was a child, my grandparents used to take me on walks in the park every Sunday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"I sang that a long time back".

The New York Times

"It seemed such a long time back then.

The Guardian - Arts

"I sang that," he said, "a long time back".

The New York Times - Arts

We had drinks and talked as if continuing a conversation we had started a long time back.

The Guardian - Books

Long time back up, Eric Kronberg has been the one to attempt to fill Nielsen's gloves in net.

The Guardian - Sport

Shaq left for the Lakers in 1996 - he would win three successive titles in Los Angeles "You know that's a long time back, right!

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

But that means the revision takes a long time, back-and-forth, just answering these post-its takes, it seems like, forever.

Stanford University

One of the ablest men I ever worked with-this is a long time back-was a German pre- World War II democratic chancellor, Heinrich Brüning.

Forbes

I am sure that for the longest time, back when the world was urged (and did) made it "a Blockbuster night," the people at the video rental chain knew everything there was to know about renting movies.

Forbes

He returned to music with Ten New Songs (2001) and Dear Heather (2004), writing with long-time backing vocalist Sharon Robinson and jazz singer Anjani Thomas.

The Guardian - Music

Up Where We Belong, his duet with Leonard Cohen's long-time backing singer Jennifer Warnes, was propelled by the success of the Richard Gere/Debra Winger film An Officer and a Gentleman to become his first American No 1.

The Telegraph

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "long time back", ensure it's clear that you're referring to a significantly distant past event to provide context for your reader.

Common error

While "long time back" is acceptable, be mindful of using it in overly formal writing where more precise or sophisticated alternatives might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long time back" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurred. Ludwig examples illustrate its use to indicate events that happened a significant period ago.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long time back" serves as an adverbial phrase, denoting an event that occurred in the distant past. While grammatically sound, according to Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare, predominantly appearing in news and general contexts. Consider its register; while acceptable, more precise language may suit formal writing. Alternatives like "a long while ago" or "in the distant past" can offer similar meanings with slight differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a long while ago

Replaces "time" with "while" to denote duration, slightly altering the emphasis.

many years ago

Specifies the duration in terms of "years", providing a more concrete timeframe.

in the distant past

Emphasizes the remoteness of the event in the past.

a long time ago

Omits "back", focusing solely on the extended period.

way back when

Introduces a colloquial tone, suggesting a return to earlier times.

in bygone days

Evokes a sense of nostalgia and a romanticized view of the past.

in former times

Uses more formal language to refer to previous periods.

in days gone by

Emphasizes the passing of time and the fading of the past.

in the olden days

Indicates a time long ago, often with connotations of historical significance.

previously

A simpler, more direct way to refer to something that happened earlier.

FAQs

How can I use "long time back" in a sentence?

You can use "long time back" to refer to an event in the distant past, for instance, "I remember visiting that museum a "long time back"."

What phrases are similar to "long time back"?

Similar phrases include "a long while ago", "many years ago", or "in the distant past".

Is "long time back" grammatically correct?

Yes, "long time back" is grammatically correct and can be used to indicate that something happened a significant time ago, as confirmed by Ludwig.

When should I use "long time back" instead of "a long time ago"?

While both phrases are similar, "long time back" might subtly emphasize the return to a past point, whereas "a long time ago" simply states that something occurred in the past. The difference is slight, and they're often interchangeable.