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back to school vs back-to-school

Both "back to school" and "back-to-school" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Back to school" is used to refer to the period when students return to school after a break, while "back-to-school" is used as an adjective to describe products or events related to the start of the school year.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 884 views

back to school

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to the period when students return to school after a break.

Use "back to school" to talk about the time when students go back to school after a break, such as summer vacation.

Examples:

  • I bought new clothes for my kids for back to school.
  • The stores are full of back to school supplies.
  • I look around... all the hippies have gone back to school or got jobs, bought condos.
  • They won't even let him come back to school.
  • Besides, I've got to get back to school.
  • But eventually, she came back to school.
  • Suzie hasn't been back to school since the trial.
  • Saying, come back to school...
  • Inubushi says he doesn't want to come back to school.
  • Principal Skinner, I need to convince Nelson to come back to school.
  • To grand central to get the train back to school.
  • But this boy's got to get back to school.
  • Our young colleagues have to come back to school.
  • Looks like we're back to school.
  • I guess I'd better be getting back to school.
  • Since she is planning on coming back to school, she probably needs it to catch up.
  • I just need to get back to school and remind people that I'm still in charge.
  • I knew this was a bad idea. I shouldn't have come back to school.
  • After my period of depression, I came back to school with a whole new image.
  • I mean, you could have gone back to school after the war.
  • I have to get back to school and help.
  • No, I've got to get back to school.

Alternatives:

  • returning to school
  • going back to school
  • school is starting again
  • school is back in session
  • the school year is beginning

back-to-school

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English as an adjective to describe products or events related to the start of the school year.

Use "back-to-school" as an adjective to describe products or events that are related to the beginning of the school year, such as back-to-school sales or back-to-school shopping.

Examples:

  • I went to the back-to-school sale at the mall.
  • The store is having a back-to-school event.
  • a couple back-to-school licenses in Spain and Turkey.
  • Opened a theme park through a license in Kuwait a year and a half ago called The 99 Village Theme Park - 300,000 square feet, 20 rides, all with our characters: a couple back-to-school licenses in Spain and Turkey.
  • - Can I leave early to go down to Mondawmin for some back-to-school stuff.
  • I wanted to know if I could leave early because me and the fellas want to go down to [?] for some back-to-school stuff.
  • That's the back-to-school rally booster concert.
  • It's back-to-school time for America's children...
  • But I haven't seen Mom since she took me back-to-school shopping.
  • $32 on sale, plus I had a back-to-school coupon.
  • You can take Dawn shopping for her back-to-school supplies.
  • We may have outgrown our old back-to-school traditions, but thanks to Barry, we started a new one.
  • A back-to-school party for seniors and their parents?
  • Principal Figgins has asked us to perform at the annual back-to-school pep rally this week.
  • And I want to see if there's an upward curve in back-to-school months.
  • Spirit bo- the day of the back-to-school athletics banquet, there were spirit boxes in our lockers.
  • I signed us both up at Back-to-school Night.
  • I once walked the runway at the Tallahassee Mall Back-To-School Fashion Show.
  • Suffice to say, I've got plenty of material for any back-to-school "what I did last summer" essay I'm asked to write.
  • And so I went back-to-school shopping with my mom.
  • Insults from a man who's being taken back-to-school shopping by his starlet girlfriend.
  • The Omega Chis publicly humiliated the ZBZs at the back-to-school carnival.

Alternatives:

  • school-related
  • start of the school year
  • beginning of the school year
  • school kickoff
  • school opening

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