veer back and forth

USAGE SUMMARY

"veer back and forth" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where something changes direction repeatedly or oscillates between two points. Example: "The car began to veer back and forth on the icy road." Alternative expressions include "sway back and forth," "oscillate," and "alternate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

From the beginning, scenes veer back and forth in a shifting time frame.

The New York Times - Books

"We veer back and forth between saying all of us ought to be treated as individuals and the realization that that doesn't make much sense".

The New York Times - Books

The nice thing about ignoring nuance and careering whole hog toward salvation or damnation, particularly when it comes to food and drink, is that it allows us to veer back and forth between unsustainable alternatives, gorging ourselves on Chablis and Hershey bars one day and going for a high colonic the next.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Ms. Ortiz's responses veered back and forth during the rest of the day's testimony.

The New York Times

I can almost see the conflict within him, as he veers back and forth from admitting Hitler did something wrong.

Independent

It's no wonder the Republican voters are veering back and forth, rejecting one candidate after another.

The New York Times

When you read the correspondence of his old age, he's sort of veering back and forth between: I am a lofty Founder.

Yale University

In the mornings, I see schoolchildren bent like Sherpas under their enormous backpacks nevertheless veering back and forth to stomp any available acorn in their paths.

The New Yorker

For two years, the planning process has veered back and forth between the possibility of an idea and unenlightened self-interest in its most brutal form.

The New York Times - Arts

Rather, he reflected each of them, by turns, as his real but insecure talent veered back and forth, and this way and that, in their stronger gravitational fields.

The New Yorker

The set veered back and forth from the album's track sequence, with guests, a constant back and forth between him and DJ Premier, the producer for some of the album's songs and the M.C. for his stage show.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with 'between' to clearly define the two extremes or alternatives involved in the oscillation.

Common error

Do not use "veer back and forth" when the subject only changes direction once. In such cases, simply using 'veer' is more precise. Reserve the full phrase for situations involving multiple, alternating shifts.

Linguistic Context

This is a verb phrase where the action verb 'veer' is modified by the adverbial phrase 'back and forth'. According to Ludwig, it functions to describe a repetitive, non-linear progression. It is often used as an intransitive verb phrase followed by a prepositional phrase starting with 'between'.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Reference

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "veer back and forth" is a versatile and expressive way to describe oscillation, whether physical, emotional or strategic. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically Correct and highly valued in professional writing for its ability to convey a sense of erratic movement or lack of stability. While it is classified as Rare in terms of absolute frequency compared to simpler verbs, its presence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker underscores its utility in sophisticated narrative contexts. Writers should use it when they want to emphasize sharp, repeated changes in direction or opinion, often using the structure "veer back and forth between X and Y" to define the scope of the movement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

swing back and forth

Focuses more on the physical motion than the metaphorical shift

seesaw

A more visual and idiomatic way to describe rapid, repeated shifts

oscillate

Used for a more technical or formal tone, often implying a steady rhythmic swing

vacillate

Specific to changing one's mind or showing indecision between opinions

fluctuate

Commonly used for values or quantities that change irregularly

waver

Suggests a lack of steadiness or becoming weak in a position

alternate

Implies a more orderly succession between two states

yo-yo

Informal term highlighting the repetitive and sometimes frustrating nature of the change

ebb and flow

Suggests a natural or rhythmic pattern of change

teeter

Implies a sense of instability or being on the verge of a fall

FAQs

How do I use "veer back and forth" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe physical motion or mental states, such as: "The driver began to veer back and forth on the icy road" or "The committee continues to veer back and forth between the two proposals".

What is the difference between "veer back and forth" and "fluctuate"?

While both imply change, "veer back and forth" often suggests a more sudden or sharp physical or metaphorical turn, whereas "fluctuate" is typically used for data, prices, or temperatures that rise and fall.

Is it correct to say "veered back and forth"?

Yes, as shown in Ludwig's examples from The New York Times, the past tense "veered back and forth" is perfectly acceptable and commonly used in narrative descriptions.

Can I use "seesaw" instead of "veer back and forth"?

Yes, "seesaw" is a great alternative that conveys the same sense of alternating between two points, though it is slightly more informal than "veer back and forth".