looking back the years vs looking back on the years

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Looking back on the years' is the more common and idiomatic phrase, indicating reflecting on past years. 'Looking back the years' is less common and may sound awkward to native speakers.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 915 views

This phrase is correct but less common in English. It may sound awkward to native speakers.

"looking back the years"

This phrase can be used to express the idea of reflecting on past years, but it is less common than 'looking back on the years.'

Show examples from the web [+]

Looking back over the years 1992 to 2001, the Swedish debt-to-GDP ratio decreased overall by 9.2 percentage points.
Looking back over the years from 1990 to 1999, the Greek debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 24.7 percentage points.
Looking back over the years from 1990 to 1999, the Swedish debt-to-GDP ratio increased on balance by 23.4 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Irish debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 29.7 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Dutch debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 7.1 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Portuguese debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 3.3 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1991 to 1997, the United Kingdom s debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 17.8 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Austrian debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 8.2 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1991 (the first year for which fiscal data for unified Germany are available) to 1997, the German debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 19.8 percentage points.
Looking back to the year the report was drawn up and - inevitably - this year to some extent, we still have a wish list with regard to the bank's communication policy.
Looking back over the years 1996 to 2005, the general government debt ratio increased cumulatively by 4.2 percentage points (see Chart 2a and Table 5).
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the French debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 22.5 percentage points (see Chart 2a).
Looking back over the years, we find a decline in reported irregularities in agriculture, with an almost equal rise in irregularities in the structural funds.
Looking back over the years from 1999 (the first year for which comparable government debt data are available) to 2005, the general government debt ratio increased cumulatively by 4.5 percentage points (see Chart 2a and Table 5).
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Belgian debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 3.5 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Danish debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 4.3 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Greek debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 18.6 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Spanish debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 24.0 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Italian debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 23.6 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, Luxembourg s debt-to-GDP ratio gradually increased by 2.0 percentage points (see Chart 2a).

Alternatives:

looking back on the years
reflecting on the years
reminiscing about the years
thinking back on the years
reviewing the years

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express the idea of reflecting on past years.

"looking back on the years"

This phrase is the more common and idiomatic way to express the idea of reflecting on past years.

Show examples from the web [+]

Looking back on the past few years, my slogan has always been that we need to be careful with European money.
Looking back over the years 1992 to 2001, the Swedish debt-to-GDP ratio decreased overall by 9.2 percentage points.
Looking back over the years from 1990 to 1999, the Greek debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 24.7 percentage points.
Looking back over the years from 1990 to 1999, the Swedish debt-to-GDP ratio increased on balance by 23.4 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Irish debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 29.7 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Dutch debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 7.1 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Portuguese debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 3.3 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1991 to 1997, the United Kingdom s debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 17.8 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Austrian debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 8.2 percentage points.
Looking back over the years 1991 (the first year for which fiscal data for unified Germany are available) to 1997, the German debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 19.8 percentage points.
Looking back to the year the report was drawn up and - inevitably - this year to some extent, we still have a wish list with regard to the bank's communication policy.
Looking back over the years 1996 to 2005, the general government debt ratio increased cumulatively by 4.2 percentage points (see Chart 2a and Table 5).
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the French debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 22.5 percentage points (see Chart 2a).
Looking back over the years, we find a decline in reported irregularities in agriculture, with an almost equal rise in irregularities in the structural funds.
Looking back over the years from 1999 (the first year for which comparable government debt data are available) to 2005, the general government debt ratio increased cumulatively by 4.5 percentage points (see Chart 2a and Table 5).
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Belgian debt-to-GDP ratio declined by 3.5 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Danish debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 4.3 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Greek debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 18.6 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Spanish debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 24.0 percentage points;
Looking back over the years 1990 to 1997, the Italian debt-to-GDP ratio increased by 23.6 percentage points;

Alternatives:

looking back the years
reflecting on the years
reminiscing about the years
thinking back on the years
reviewing the years

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looking back the years vs looking back on the years

"looking back the years"

"looking back on the years"

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