transition back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "transition back and forth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of moving or changing between two states, conditions, or situations repeatedly. Example: "In her presentation, she explained how the team would transition back and forth between different project phases to ensure flexibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

MET and EMT CSCs can readily transition back and forth between the two cell states.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Some combination of positive and negative feedback is used to drive the op amp into an unstable state, causing the output to transition back and forth at a continuous rate.

Op Amps for Everyone

Cellular plasticity, or the ability to transition back and forth between a sessile epithelial cell and a migratory mesenchymal cell, is a well-studied phenomenon that is critical to several physiological processes, including embryonic development, wound healing, and cancer progression.

Plosone

Absenteeism and presenteeism are part of a continuum within which workers likely transition back and forth over time [ 5].

BMC Public Health

Additionally, offering a bottle may cause nipple confusion as your baby tries to transition back and forth between the two types of nipples.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

As I transitioned back and forth from carefully curated speeches to active listening, my inbox was filling with the level of email that would become my new norm.

Huffington Post

Observers typically transitioned back and forth between 'see' and 'no see' states.

Plosone

This source of intra-specific variation might help fuel transitions, back and forth on ecological and evolutionary timescales, from mutualism to parasitism.

Ecological Entomology

Furthermore, transitions back and forth from mutualism to parasitism on an ecological timescale are matched by similar transitions on an evolutionary timescale (Boucher, 1985; Machado et al., 2001; Sachs & Simms, 2006; Douglas, 2010).

Ecological Entomology

This finding is in disagreement with a previous study proposing that the residue at site 90 has transitioned back and forth between S and C multiple times throughout passerine evolution [ 41].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The back-and-forth transitions trim the fat and streamline the storytelling.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or system that changes states regularly, use "transition back and forth" to clearly indicate the cyclical nature of the change.

Common error

Avoid using "transition back and forth" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "alternate", "switch", or "move" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "transition back and forth" functions as a verb phrase, describing a process of repeated movement or change between two states. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase in English. Examples show it describing shifts in cellular states, work patterns, and even abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "transition back and forth" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a recurring change between two states, a fact supported by Ludwig AI. While versatile, it appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. For writing best practices, use the phrase where you want to emphasize a cyclical change but avoid overuse by considering synonyms such as "alternate between" or "shift between" for improved clarity and engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alternate between

This phrase emphasizes the act of switching regularly between two things.

shift between

This phrase suggests a change in position or state from one to another.

move between

Suggests a physical or conceptual movement from one point to another.

oscillate between

Implies a regular and repeated movement between two points or states.

fluctuate between

This suggests irregular variations between two states.

revert to and from

This phrase suggests a returning to a previous state and then departing from it again.

yo-yo between

This is a more informal way to describe moving up and down, or in and out, between two things.

switch to and fro

This phrase suggests an exchange that occurs on a repetitive base.

interchange between

This suggests a mutual exchange or alteration between two things.

cycle between

This implies a recurring sequence of changes between two conditions.

FAQs

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

You can use "transition back and forth" to describe a repeated change between two states. For example, "The patient might "transition back and forth" between periods of lucidity and confusion."

What's a more concise way to say "transition back and forth"?

Depending on the context, alternatives like "alternate between", "shift between", or "move between" can provide a more concise option.

Is it redundant to say "transition back and forth"?

While not strictly redundant, "transition back and forth" can sometimes be simplified. Consider if "transition" alone conveys the cyclical nature. If not, alternatives like "oscillate between" might be more appropriate.

How does "transition back and forth" differ from "change"?

"Change" is a general term for becoming different, while "transition back and forth" specifically implies a repeated or cyclical change between two defined states or conditions.