make back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make back and forth" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to describe a process of moving or communicating in a reciprocal manner, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "We need to make back and forth on this issue to reach a consensus."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

No doubt, all the outraged electronic references so many of us are suddenly making back and forth to each other about Big Data (on Facebook, Twitter, etc).

The New York Times

• An Oakland club official, speaking anonymously because he wasn't authorized to discuss the matter, said a lot of telephone calls were made back and forth, and the players were in the room for a long time.

The New York Times - Sports

(He pays the toll on the George Washington Bridge in cash rather than using an E-Z Pass; he says he doesn't want anyone to know how many trips he has made back and forth, should the American authorities ever decide that he is too much of a liability and try to build a case against him for conspiring with the enemy).

The New Yorker

Parametric psychophysical investigations are reported for two related illusory effects that occur when viewing an elementary square-wave grating while making "back and forth" head movements along the projection line.

Neural Networks

Eventually, other people may be needed to help manage finances, make plans, get back and forth from home, eat, stay clean or go to the bathroom.

Huffington Post

The goal now is to make instant back-and-forth conversation translation a practical, usable reality that can make it possible for someone to accomplish everything they need to in an unfamiliar language without learning a lick of it.

TechCrunch

A tight rope with little sag makes quicker vibrations, whereas a loose rope with a lot of sag makes larger back-and-forth swings.

Science Magazine

The arrangement saved him "making two back-and-forth trips to town".

The New Yorker

The ability to express so much is making campaign back-and-forth a kind of online bile duct.

The New York Times

Recently, Instagram added some savvy stabilization, which makes your back-and-forth image loops much less shaky.

TechCrunch

These decisions are made with back-and-forths on email threads, or huddles done at Facebook headquarters and its offices around the world.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "make back and forth" in formal writing. Opt for more standard expressions like "go back and forth" or "move back and forth" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

The verb "make" does not typically collocate with "back and forth" to describe movement or communication. Using "go" or "move" provides a clearer and more grammatically sound expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make back and forth" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates it's not standard English. The intended function seems to describe a reciprocal action or movement, but the verb choice is inappropriate.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make back and forth" is not considered standard English and is generally grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to use established phrases like "go back and forth" or "move back and forth" to convey the idea of reciprocal movement or communication effectively. While there are examples of its use, mainly in news and media contexts, it is not recommended for formal writing. Using more conventional alternatives will ensure clarity and avoid potential confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go back and forth

Uses "go" instead of "make" to describe reciprocal movement or communication.

move back and forth

Replaces "make" with "move" to emphasize physical movement in both directions.

shuttle back and forth

Implies a regular and repeated movement between two points.

travel back and forth

Focuses on the act of traveling in both directions, often over a longer distance.

communicate reciprocally

Highlights the mutual exchange of information or ideas.

exchange messages

Focuses on the exchange aspect of messages.

alternate between

Describes switching between two options or states repeatedly.

oscillate between

Emphasizes a more formal or scientific sense of moving or fluctuating between two states.

reciprocate actions

Focuses on returning actions or gestures in kind.

interchange ideas

Implies a mutual giving and receiving of thoughts or opinions.

FAQs

What are some better ways to say "make back and forth"?

Instead of "make back and forth", you can use phrases such as "go back and forth", "move back and forth", or "shuttle back and forth" to more accurately describe reciprocal movement or communication.

Is "make back and forth" grammatically correct?

No, "make back and forth" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use established phrases like "go back and forth" or "move back and forth".

How can I use "go back and forth" in a sentence?

You can use "go back and forth" to describe physical movement (e.g., "I go back and forth between work and home") or communication (e.g., "We go back and forth with ideas until we reach a decision").

What is the difference between "make back and forth" and "go back and forth"?

"Make back and forth" is not a standard English phrase. "Go back and forth" is the correct idiomatic expression to use when you want to express reciprocal movement or communication.