stretches back further

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stretches back further" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a history or origin that extends back in time beyond a certain point. Example: "The tradition of storytelling stretches back further than we can trace, rooted in ancient cultures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Yet his criticism of American Catholicism stretches back further.

The New York Times

Black said the fact that the accounting scandal, first uncovered a month ago, stretches back further than just this year was also a matter of concern.

The Guardian - Business

And the average number of fatalities caused by tornadoes has been steadily declining since 1925 - before Monday's storm, only one of the 25 deadliest tornadoes occurred in the last 58 years, and most of that list stretches back further than a century.

BBC

But in a sense, India's determination to act on its own stretches back further, to a time when the entire subcontinent was a British colonial possession.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mr. Rolando's fair memories stretch back further.

The New York Times

The golf roots of the Haas family tree stretch back further.

The New York Times - Sports

But Baldwin's formative experiences on English soil stretch back further than last autumn.

Independent

After Ethiopian troops defeated the ICU, al-Shabaab – which means "the youth" – emerged as an autonomous insurgent force, although its origins may stretch back further.

The Guardian

His family trace their roots back to Pathans from the Khyber Agency of what is today north-west Pakistan, but he believes they stretch back further to the tribe of Ephraim.

The Guardian

Writer Chris Chibnall, whose previous scripts include Life on Mars, Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood, said his influences stretch back further than that to the 1990s US cop show Murder One and David Lynch's Twin Peaks.

The Guardian

Historically, British Leyland's roots stretched back further than Henry Ford's Model T. The company controlled 36percentt of the British market well into the 1970s, with mass-market brands like Austin and Morris and premium lines like MG and Jaguar.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what "stretches back further" relates to. This prevents confusion about the subject matter's historical context.

Common error

Avoid using "stretches back further" to create a false sense of antiquity or importance. Ensure the historical context is relevant and significant, rather than merely attempting to impress with age.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stretches back further" functions as a verb phrase that modifies a noun, adding information about its history or origins. It indicates that the history or origins of something extend to a time earlier than what was previously mentioned. Ludwig confirms this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stretches back further" is a common and correct way to indicate that something's history or origins extend beyond a previously stated point in time. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. It effectively provides additional context, suggesting that the subject has a more extensive and deeper history than one might initially assume. While the phrase appears most frequently in news and media, it is versatile enough for use in various contexts, maintaining a generally neutral register. When employing "stretches back further", ensure that you're clear about the initial reference point and that you aren't overstating the historical significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extends back further

Changes the verb to "extends", offering a more formal tone.

reaches back further

Substitutes "stretches" with "reaches", providing a slightly different visual metaphor.

goes back even further

Replaces "stretches" with "goes", emphasizing the act of tracing back in time and introducing "even" for emphasis.

dates back further

Uses "dates" instead of "stretches", focusing on the period in time from which something originates.

has origins that go further back

Reframes the phrase to highlight origins, using a more descriptive and explanatory style.

is rooted further in the past

Emphasizes the deep entrenchment of something in the past.

originates even earlier

Focuses on the point of origin being earlier than a specified time.

can be traced back further

Highlights the ability to follow something back to an earlier time.

its history extends further

Emphasizes that the history of something extends further than a given point.

has a longer history

Simplifies the phrase, focusing directly on the length of the history.

FAQs

How can I use "stretches back further" in a sentence?

Use "stretches back further" to indicate that the history or origins of something extend to an earlier time than initially stated. For example, "While the organization was founded in 1990, its roots "stretches back further" to the community activism of the 1960s".

What are some alternatives to "stretches back further"?

You can use alternatives like "extends back further", "reaches back further", or "goes back even further" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "stretches back farther" instead of "stretches back further"?

While both "farther" and "further" can refer to distance, "further" is generally preferred when discussing metaphorical or non-physical distances, such as time or degree. Thus, "stretches back further" is the more common and appropriate choice.

What's the difference between "stretches back further" and "dates back further"?

"Stretches back further" implies a continuous line or connection to an earlier time, while "dates back further" simply indicates the time of origin. The former suggests a development or evolution over time, whereas the latter just marks a point in time.