Ludwig is an AI-powered English writing assistant that helps you find example sentences, check grammar, and improve your writing using reliable sources from reputable publications.

Is Ludwig free to use?

Ludwig offers both free and premium plans. The free plan provides basic access to our features, while the premium plan unlocks advanced tools, unlimited searches, and additional writing assistance features.

How does Ludwig help with English learning?

Ludwig provides contextual example sentences from reliable sources like The New York Times, BBC, and academic publications, helping you understand how words and phrases are used in real-world contexts. This improves both writing fluency and comprehension skills.

Ludwig is trusted by students, teachers, researchers, and professionals worldwide. It's used by top universities including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford, as well as professionals in tech companies like Adobe.

What makes Ludwig different from other writing tools?

Ludwig focuses on providing real example sentences from authoritative sources, not just grammar checking. This contextual approach helps users understand not just what's correct, but how language is actually used by native speakers and professional writers.

Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

Back to base
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"back to base" is a correct and usable phrase in written English
It generally means to return to a home or original location. For example, "We walked for miles, but it was time to head back to base."

✓ Grammatically correct

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

The vessel limped back to base.

News & Media

The New York Times

The jet made it back to base.

News & Media

The New York Times

They decide it's too far and head back to base.

News & Media

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Then we retrace our steps back to base.

News & Media

The Guardian

New York had sucked the money back to base.

News & Media

The Guardian - Business

Elvis leaves the building, and we drive back to base.

News & Media

The New York Times - Magazine

I get back to base camp, exhausted, filthy.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"Had to leave my team and haul ass back to base".

News & Media

The New York Times

And then we went back to base and absolutely nailed the make-up truck.

News & Media

Independent

We all made it back to base, leaving the ambush site littered with dead attackers.

News & Media

The New York Times

Still tied together and anxious not to be separated, we headed back to base.

News & Media

Independent

Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

Consider replacing "back to base" with more formal alternatives like "return to headquarters" in professional or military settings for increased clarity and formality.

⚠ Common error

Avoid using "back to base" when the destination isn't a designated starting point or a place considered a home or origin. Using it loosely can cause confusion if there's no clear "base" being referenced.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back to base" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate direction and destination. Examples from Ludwig show its use in sentences describing movement or return, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

⚠ Less common in

Formal & Business

Academia

Encyclopedias

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "back to base" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase indicating a return to a starting point or home location. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its usage spans various contexts, from news reports to personal narratives, though it leans toward neutral to informal settings. For formal situations, alternatives like "return to headquarters" might be more appropriate. Common usage involves describing a return after a mission or journey. Ludwig's examples show its adaptability and broad applicability in expressing the idea of returning to an origin.

Alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

return to the home base

Slightly more emphatic about the "home" aspect of the base.

report back to headquarters

Formal and emphasizes the act of reporting or checking in.

return to headquarters

More formal alternative, typically used in military or organizational contexts.

go back to camp

Specific to situations involving camping or temporary bases.

go back home

Simple and informal way to express returning to one's residence.

get back to the office

Specific to returning to a workplace.

More alternative expressions(6)

back to outpost

again to base

got to base

back to heart

back to bedrock

comes to base

FAQs

How can I use "back to base" in a sentence?

You can use "back to base" to describe a return to a starting point or a home location, for example: "After the mission, the troops headed "back to base" for debriefing".

What are some alternatives to saying "back to base"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "return to headquarters", "go back home", or "head back to the starting point" as alternatives to "back to base".

Is "back to base" formal or informal?

"Back to base" is generally considered a neutral to informal phrase. In more formal contexts, such as military or business settings, it may be better to use "return to headquarters" or similar phrases.

What does "back to base" typically imply?

"Back to base" usually implies a return to a designated starting point, home location, or a place considered a point of origin. It suggests completing a journey or task and returning to where it began, like when you "go back to camp" after a hike.

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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

84%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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Back to baseGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

Back to base
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples