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 • 1082 views

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

"back to school"

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

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

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.

"back-to-school"

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

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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back to school vs back-to-school

"back to school"

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