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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
As far back as
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"as far back as" is a correct and usable phrase in written English
You can use it to refer to a point in the past, and it is often used with a specific time frame or event, for example: "As far back as the year 2004, scientists have been working on this project."
✓ Grammatically correct
Academia
News & Media
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
Figure 1 shows the amount of papers published each year, going as far back as 1999.
They were computer-literate as far back as 1993.
News & Media
— We have you as far back as April in Shoreditch.
News & Media
We need not look as far back as Nuremberg.
News & Media
It requests detailed information from as far back as high school.
Contains tens of millions of searchable newspaper pages, dating as far back as the 1700s.
Academia
I'm 25 years old and I've been playing as far back as I can remember.
Academia
One possible idea goes as far back as the 1920s.
News & Media
Recall bias was inevitable as patients recalled experiences extending as far back as a few years.
Science
Messages were obtained from as far back as available until 25 September 2014.
Science
Scabies is an ancient disease (documented as far back as 2500 years ago).
Science
Expert writing Tips
✓ Best practice
Use "as far back as" to establish the historical context or origin of a subject, providing readers with a clear sense of how long something has existed or been relevant.
⚠ Common error
Avoid using "as far back as" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement and avoid sounding repetitive.
Linguistic Context
The phrase "as far back as" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a point in the past. It is used to specify the earliest time or origin of something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and frequently used, as demonstrated in the examples.
Expression frequency: Very common
✓ Frequent in
News & Media
35%
Academia
33%
Science
32%
⚠ Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "as far back as" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to denote a specific point of origin in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage across different types of content. It is most commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, aim to provide clear historical context and avoid overuse in close proximity. Alternatives like ""dating back to"" and "since" can help to add variety to your writing. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively incorporate "as far back as" into your writing to establish a sense of history and origin.
Alternative expressions
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
dating back to
Focuses on establishing a timeline or origin point.
since
Implies a duration from a past point to the present.
from the time of
Highlights a specific historical period.
prior to
Indicates a time before a certain event or date.
earlier than
Suggests a comparative point in the past.
in the past
A more general way to reference previous times.
More alternative expressions(1)
FAQs
How can I use "as far back as" in a sentence?
Use "as far back as" to indicate a point in the past when something was first recorded, practiced, or known. For instance, "Medical practices date "dating back to" as far back as ancient Egypt".
What are some alternatives to using "as far back as"?
Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as ""dating back to"", "since", or "from the time of".
Is it correct to say "as far back as when"?
While grammatically sound, using "as far back as when" can sometimes be redundant. Consider simplifying your sentence to improve clarity. For example, instead of "As far back as when the dinosaurs roamed," try "As far back as when the dinosaurs roamed".
What's the difference between "as far back as" and "since"?
"As far back as" points to a specific time in the past. "Since", however, indicates a period from a past point to the present. For example, "The company has been in operation since 1990" versus "The company's history goes "dating back to" as far back as 1990".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested