looking back and on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking back and on" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey reflection on past events, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "While looking back and on my experiences, I realized how much I have grown."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Since then, there has been no looking back and on a transfer deadline day short of big news, Kane's fresh commitment to Spurs was arguably the most significant development.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In fact, they had looked back and forth, on average, 120 times.

The New York Times

Both St Mirren and Lennon could eventually look back and reflect on shared moments of accomplishment.

BBC

We present a retrospective on the LBNL Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) project, looking back on our design and experiences.

Physica Medica

And like Littlechap, Jimmy spends the play looking back on his life and seeing the flaws.

The New York Times

And looking back on it now, we realize that we took your love for granted.

The New Yorker

O'Hara, looking back on the process and the uniform that resulted, said: "I love it.

The New York Times - Sports

And looking back on his early years did not seem so very difficult.

The New York Times

And looking back on his work, he is pleased by his restraint.

The Guardian - Arts

He was looking back on the game and saying it looks like an impressionist painting.

The Guardian - Tech

She's looking back on her life and what happened.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to express reflection on a past event, use more standard phrases such as "reflecting on" or "looking back at" instead of the non-idiomatic "looking back and on".

Common error

Avoid combining "back" and "on" unnecessarily when expressing reflection. Stick to established phrasings like "looking back at" or simply "reflecting on" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking back and on" functions as a verbal phrase attempting to describe the act of reviewing or reflecting upon past events. However, Ludwig AI indicates this phrasing is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looking back and on" is a non-standard expression intending to convey reflection on past events. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical incorrectness, suggesting alternatives like "reflecting on" or "looking back at". While examples exist across various contexts, including News & Media and Science, its infrequent usage and grammatical issues impact its overall effectiveness. Therefore, writers should opt for more established and clearer alternatives to ensure accurate and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reflecting on

Focuses solely on the act of thinking deeply about the past, omitting the additional 'and on'.

looking back at

Specifies that the reflection is directed towards something specific in the past, unlike the original phrase.

in retrospect

Indicates a consideration of the past with the benefit of hindsight, which is not explicitly present in the original phrase.

upon reflection

Highlights the process of thinking something over, emphasizing the act of pondering.

with hindsight

Emphasizes understanding events after they have occurred, which may change the perspective.

considering the past

Directly addresses the act of thinking about previous times or occurrences, more literal.

thinking over the past

Highlights a more deliberative and contemplative consideration of prior events.

assessing past events

Focuses on evaluating or judging what has happened, adding an element of analysis.

reviewing former times

Implies a structured examination of earlier periods, suggesting a systematic approach.

reminiscing about

Suggests a fond or nostalgic remembering of past experiences, adding an emotional tone.

FAQs

Is "looking back and on" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "looking back and on" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "looking back at" or "reflecting on".

What does "looking back and on" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "looking back and on" seems to be an attempt to describe reflecting on past experiences. However, it's unclear and should be replaced with clearer alternatives like "thinking about" or "considering".

How can I use "reflecting on" in a sentence?

You can use "reflecting on" to introduce thoughts about past events. For example, "Reflecting on my mistakes has helped me grow".

Are there formal alternatives to "looking back and on"?

Yes, for formal contexts, use "in retrospect" or "upon reflection" instead of the non-standard "looking back and on".