"have been back to" vs "have been back in"

Question

"have been back to" vs "have been back in"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Have been back in' is used when referring to returning to a specific location or place, while 'have been back to' is used when referring to returning to a general location or place. They are not directly comparable as they serve different purposes.

Last Updated: April 01, 2024

This phrase is used when you want to indicate that you have returned to a place in a general sense, without specifying a particular location. It implies a sense of having revisited a place.

Examples:

I have been back to Europe a few times.
She has been back to the beach where we went last summer.
They have been back to the park where they used to play as kids.
He has been back to the city where he grew up.
We have been back to that restaurant many times.

Alternatives:

have revisited
have returned to
have come back to

This phrase is used when you want to indicate that you have returned to a particular place. It implies a sense of physically being present in that location again.

Examples:

I have been back in my hometown for a week now.
She has been back in the office since Monday.
They have been back in the same restaurant several times.
He has been back in the classroom after the break.
We have been back in our old house for a while.

Alternatives:

have returned to
have come back to
have revisited

Answer 1

have been back to

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to returning to a general location or place.

Answer 2

have been back in

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to returning to a specific location or place.

"have been back to" vs "have been back in"

have been back to

have been back in

Related Comparisons