search backwards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "search backwards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the action of looking for information or data in a reverse order or direction. Example: "To find the original source of the quote, you may need to search backwards through the document."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

(Enter iron gate on L. a few hundred yards before reaching tollhouse, and search backwards along the hedge bordering road).

Wikipedia

We can rapidly identify sequences entirely within our range query, but to identify those completely spanning the range we have to search backwards, up to the maximum sequence length base pairs away from our range boundaries.

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Database searches, backwards snowballing, and contacts with experts yielded a total of 246 citations.

BioMed Research International

In the first step, using a retrosynthesis software, reactions producing a target compound are iteratively searched backwards until the set of needed precursors only contains source metabolites.

BMC Systems Biology

The dominant solution in genome indexing is the Burrows-Wheeler transform (BWT) [ 10] of the reference sequence (e.g., [ 5, 11]), in which the reads are searched with the backwards search algorithm introduced in FM-index of Ferragina and Manzini [ 12].

BMC Genomics

When performing the backwards search to find overlaps, we can allow the search to proceed to mismatched bases or gaps while ensuring that the ϵ bound is respected.

Bioinformatics

According to the path of each stage, the feasible path can be found through backwards search.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Then, a forwards and a subsequent backwards search are performed in an iterative manner, using the topology of the target map: average distance.

European Transport Research Review

The pilot search was conducted backwards and forwards.

Family Practice

The findOverlaps algorithm is similar to the backwards search procedure presented in Section 2.4.

Bioinformatics

In other words, the majority of SA intervals are created in the first 12 14 iterations of the backwards search.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific terms like "trace back" or "retrace steps" if they better reflect the action you're describing.

Common error

Avoid using "search backwards" when a chronological or logical progression is required. This phrase is specifically for reversed or retrospective searches.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "search backwards" functions as a compound verb phrase indicating a method of investigation or data retrieval performed in reverse order. Ludwig examples show its use in scientific contexts, such as bioinformatics algorithms and citation analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "search backwards" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression, typically used in technical or investigative contexts to describe a reverse-order search process. As Ludwig AI indicated, this is a correct usage. While not exceptionally common, the phrase appears in scientific literature, news articles, and even wiki pages, suggesting it has a wide, if somewhat infrequent, application. When using this phrase, it's best to ensure that the reversed direction of the search is clear to the reader to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

search in reverse

Emphasizes the reversed order of the search, focusing on the directional aspect.

trace back

Highlights the action of following a path to find the origin or cause.

retrace steps

Implies going back through previous actions to find something.

look back

A more general term for examining past events or information.

review the past

Focuses on examining past information or records.

investigate retrospectively

A formal way of saying to examine something in the past.

analyze historically

Indicates analyzing something from a historical perspective.

check the history

A simpler way to refer to reviewing previous events or data.

go back over

Suggests reviewing or re-examining something already covered.

reverse engineer

Refers to deducing how something was made or works by examining it in reverse.

FAQs

How can I use "search backwards" in a sentence?

You can use "search backwards" to describe a process of investigation where you start from the end and work towards the beginning. For example, "To understand the root cause, we need to search backwards from the final result".

What does "search backwards" mean in the context of computer science?

In computer science, "searching backwards" often refers to algorithms that start their search from the end of a data structure. This is commonly seen in string searching algorithms.

Are there any alternatives to "search backwards" that I can use?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "trace back", "retrace steps", or "investigate retrospectively".

When is it appropriate to use "search backwards" versus other search methods?

Use "search backwards" when the logical or chronological order of discovery is inverted. For example, when debugging code, you might search backwards from the error to find the cause, rather than forward from the initial conditions.