told backwards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "told backwards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has been recounted or expressed in reverse order. Example: "The story was so intriguing that I asked him to tell it to me told backwards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The Beale saga is a tale told backwards.

The Guardian - Sport

The desire to write a science-fiction epic, told backwards by eight unreliable narrators.

The Guardian - Books

That film provoked intense internet debates about its puzzling story, which was told backwards from the point of view of a man with no short-term memory.

The Economist

But earlier this year she made a triumphant change of direction with The Night Watch, a complicated story, told backwards, set during and just after the Second World War.

Independent

History told backwards, a memoir, a love letter to Liverpool, several to Manchester; the book pushed me to go to the Lowry exhibition at the Tate and made me listen again to George Formby and the Buzzcocks.

The Guardian - Books

I always thought that the idea of a novel about the Holocaust told backwards, through the eyes of someone living inside the head of a Nazi war criminal, seemed like too much of a gimmick.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

If poetry could truly tell it backwards, then it would.

Huffington Post

Poetry can't "truly tell it backwards," as Duffy said.

Huffington Post

"Doesn't it seem to be that "don't ask, don't tell" is backwards?" said Lady Gaga.

Huffington Post

The heart of the poem depicts events "if poetry could tell it backwards" – soldiers who died in the war coming back to life, "lines and lines of British boys rewind / back to their trenches".

Wikipedia

If poetry could tell it backwards, true, begin that moment shrapnel scythed you to the stinking mud... but you get up, amazed, watch bled bad blood run upwards from the slime into its wounds; see lines and lines of British boys rewind back to their trenches, kiss the photographs from home- mothers, sweethearts, sisters, younger brothers not entering the story now to die and die and die.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "told backwards", ensure the context clearly indicates that the sequence of events or information is presented in reverse order for a specific artistic or narrative purpose. For example, in film or literature, this technique can create suspense or reveal information in a non-linear fashion.

Common error

Avoid using "told backwards" merely as a stylistic choice without a clear purpose. Ensure the reversed narrative structure enhances the storytelling, rather than confusing the audience. A backwards narrative is powerful when the reversed order reveals the answer to a prior question and makes a resolution more impacting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told backwards" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the manner in which a story or narrative is presented. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used to indicate a non-linear, reverse chronological order in storytelling.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Books

31%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Film

6%

Science & Research

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "told backwards" accurately describes a narrative technique where events are presented in reverse chronological order. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently encountered in diverse contexts, particularly in news, books, and film. The phrase serves to categorize and highlight a specific storytelling approach, one that deviates from conventional linear timelines. Common usage involves describing film plots, literary structures, or even personal anecdotes presented in reverse to create suspense or reveal information strategically. While "told backwards" maintains a neutral tone, its application suggests a deliberate artistic choice to alter the audience's experience of the narrative, and it can be interchanged with phrases like "narrated in reverse" or "recounted in reverse order".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

backwards narrative

A more concise way of saying the same thing, focusing on the narrative itself.

narrated in reverse

Emphasizes the order of narration being inverted.

story in reverse

Simple way of pointing at the order in which a story has been built.

reverse storytelling

Highlights the method of storytelling.

recounted in reverse order

Highlights the act of recounting information in an inverted sequence.

chronologically inverted

Describes a story where the sequence of events is presented out of order.

presented in reverse chronology

Focuses on the temporal sequence of events being inverted.

plot unfolding in reverse

Focuses on how the plot progresses in a reversed manner.

inverted narrative structure

Indicates that the entire narrative framework is flipped.

retrograde narrative

Uses a more formal term to describe the reversed nature of the narrative.

FAQs

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

You can use "told backwards" to describe a narrative structure where events are presented in reverse chronological order. For instance, "The movie was "told backwards", starting with the ending and revealing the beginning last."

What is an example of a story that is "told backwards"?

Christopher Nolan's film Memento is a famous example of a story "told backwards", where the protagonist's amnesia influences the narrative structure, presenting events in reverse order to mirror his fragmented memory.

What can I say instead of "told backwards"?

You can use alternatives like "narrated in reverse", "recounted in reverse order", or "presented in reverse chronology" depending on the context.

What effect does "telling a story backwards" have on the audience?

Telling a story backwards can create suspense, mystery, or a sense of disorientation. It often challenges the audience to piece together the events and understand the causal relationships differently compared to a traditional narrative structure.