have been back in vs have been back to

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 • 3404 views

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

"have been back in"

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

I think we have no idea how much like rawhide these people must have been back in, you know, 5 or 6 centuries ago.
You shouldn't have been back in the OR so soon.
For real, without Jim, six months, I would have been back in Syracuse.
You hadn't caught onto us, I would have been back in 2149 with my daughter a long time ago.
The proposal to shorten Strasbourg sessions to four days would have meant that MEPs could have been back in their constituencies for longer periods meeting groups, individuals and organisations and getting across the message about what we do here in Strasbourg and Brussels.
We can scarcely imagine just how powerful they must have been back in ancient times.
God knows. I'd have been back in uniform months ago.
Haven't been back in fifty years.
Haven't been back in 20 years, though.
I haven't been back in such a long time, though.
Guess I just haven't been back in a while.
I haven't been back in a while.
Guess I just haven't been back in a while.
Have you been back in Moscow long?
Ned: I haven't been back in a long time.
I haven't been back in town a couple days and I've already started a fight, destroyed a piece of art and ruined your party.
I was so busy that I haven't been back in years.
Following a host of reforms, we had in actual fact hoped that those times were over, but we have unfortunately been back in rather familiar territory in recent days.
How long have you been back in Oxford?
I could have been put back in jail.

Alternatives:

have returned to
have come back to
have revisited

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

"have been back to"

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

Tomm, you two have been back to Calais recently.
Since 1970, no human beings have been back to the moon.
I have been back to Bulgaria since then, as indeed has the President of Parliament.
I haven't been back to the hospital since that day.
Have not been back to this place since I pledged myself to the League.
That was two days ago, and I haven't been back to my apartment.
Okay, I... I haven't been back to that house since.
I haven't been back to the apartment since claire took the body out.
As much as I like wearing your boxer shorts, I haven't been back to my place in three days.
Your mom says you haven't been back to the hospital.
All my plants are dead, I haven't been back to my apartment in over a month.
I have not been back to New York City in so long.
I have not been back to New York City in so long.
I haven't even been back to heaven.
It should have been brought back to the Citadel to be kept safe.
Maybe the SA have been called back to barracks.
Given these conditions, the report should have been referred back to committee.
The droids have been pushed Back to the main hangar.
We have been ordered back to base.
Have you been back to our spot since?

Alternatives:

have revisited
have returned to
have come back to

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have been back in vs have been back to

"have been back in"

"have been back to"

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