toggling back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "toggling back and forth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the action of switching between two states or options repeatedly. Example: "During the meeting, she was toggling back and forth between the two presentations to compare their effectiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

"How about that?" John says, excitedly toggling back and forth between the two images.

The New York Times

Dee keeps us in suspense for quite a long time, toggling back and forth between Molly and John.

The New York Times - Books

Now he was toggling back and forth among various currencies, trying to minimize his risk as his fortune increased dramatically.

The New Yorker

I tend to solve Acrostics by "toggling" back and forth between guessing the clues and filling in the words as they take shape.

The New York Times

But I have been toggling back and forth between a couple of very different books about putting: "Unconscious Putting," by Dave Stockton, and "The 3-Degree Putting Solution," by Michael Breed.

The New York Times

While Koichi and soon Ryunosuke become the story's dual cornerstones, with the story toggling back and forth between them, their classmates, parents and assorted others also drift in and out of the picture.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

In the end he just used two walk poses that toggled back and forth.

The New York Times

If you have more than one monitor, he said, "You don't have to toggle back and forth.

The New York Times - Tech

Mr. Lieberman's main campaign message toggled back and forth, about the American dream, or about leading with integrity.

The New York Times

He will have to choose between conciliation and confrontation, or find a way to toggle back and forth between the two.

The New York Times

So for each patient, we toggled back and forth on our single computer between two medical record systems and two different medical record numbers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "toggling back and forth" to describe the act of quickly switching between two options, settings, or viewpoints. It's especially useful when the action is repetitive and perhaps even a little tedious.

Common error

While acceptable, "toggling back and forth" can sometimes sound informal. In formal writing, consider stronger verbs like "alternating", "oscillating", or "shifting" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "toggling back and forth" functions as a compound verb phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier to describe how an action is performed. Ludwig examples show it describes actions like switching between images, currencies, or ideas.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "toggling back and forth" is a common phrase used to describe the act of repeatedly switching between two options or states. While generally acceptable across various contexts, including news and media, Ludwig suggests that more formal situations may benefit from stronger verb alternatives like "alternating" or "oscillating". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and serves to convey the idea of oscillation or frequent switching, often implying a comparison or evaluation process. Remember to consider your audience and the desired tone when deciding whether to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

switching between

Focuses on the action of changing from one thing to another, emphasizing the change itself.

alternating between

Highlights the regular, repeated pattern of changing from one thing to another.

moving back and forth

Emphasizes the physical or metaphorical movement between two points or states.

oscillating between

Suggests a rhythmic, cyclical movement between two states or positions, often used in technical contexts.

fluctuating between

Implies irregular or unpredictable changes between different levels or states.

yo-yoing between

Conveys a rapid and often uncontrolled movement back and forth, like a yo-yo.

shuttling between

Suggests a frequent and efficient movement between two places or tasks.

rebounding between

Implies a return to a previous state after an initial change, suggesting resilience or instability.

seesawing between

Evokes an image of a seesaw, suggesting an equal and balanced alternation between two options.

vacillating between

Indicates hesitation or indecision while switching between two options, suggesting a lack of commitment.

FAQs

What does "toggling back and forth" mean?

It refers to the action of repeatedly switching between two options or states, often quickly and easily. Imagine flipping a switch or comparing two versions of something.

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

You can say, "She was "switching between" different browser tabs all afternoon" or "The presentation kept "moving back and forth" between the project's goals and the current status".

What are some synonyms for "toggling back and forth"?

Alternatives include "alternating between", "switching between", "moving back and forth", or "fluctuating between". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "toggling back and forth" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral to slightly informal. In highly formal writing, you might prefer a more sophisticated term like "oscillating between" or "alternating between".