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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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As far back as

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE 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

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.

— We have you as far back as April in Shoreditch.

News & Media

The New Yorker

We need not look as far back as Nuremberg.

News & Media

The New York Times

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.

I'm 25 years old and I've been playing as far back as I can remember.

One possible idea goes as far back as the 1920s.

News & Media

BBC

Recall bias was inevitable as patients recalled experiences extending as far back as a few years.

Messages were obtained from as far back as available until 25 September 2014.

Scabies is an ancient disease (documented as far back as 2500 years ago).

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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.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

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.

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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Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: