the letters returned back vs the letters were returned

The phrases are not directly comparable as they convey different meanings. 'The letters returned back' suggests that the letters came back on their own, which is not a common expression in English. On the other hand, 'the letters were returned' is a correct passive construction indicating that someone returned the letters.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1559 views

This phrase is not commonly used in English as it implies that the letters came back on their own, which is not a typical scenario.

"the letters returned back"

This phrase does not accurately convey the intended meaning of the letters being returned by someone or something. It is better to use a different construction to express the idea of letters being returned.

Show examples from the web [+]

One of my letters was returned back to Tae-soo's home
We have the two cert fied letters returned unc aimed.
Our Bom returned back safe and sound.
He then returned back to the house in South Salem.
Afterwards, I slowly returned back into your right hand.
When my parents died suddenly I was returned back to Orion and forced into slavery.
"Returned back to prison this afternoon"
However, when he returned back, he was like nothing had happened.
This picture never got returned back to the people who lost it, but this secret has impacted many lives, starting with a student up in Canada named Matty.
Kathie returned back to South Salem at about 7:30.
And that's why I returned back to my school.
After that, Valentine dropped off the grid, then presumably returned back to work, never skipping a beat.
Every picture that you see there and thousands of others have been returned back to the person who lost it - sometimes crossing oceans, sometimes going through language barriers.
As much as 20% of farmers' total direct payments would be clawed back and transferred to some rural development measures or returned back into the CAP budget itself.
There was a person, Anil Sadgopal, did a Ph.D. from Caltech and returned back as a molecular biologist in India's cutting-edge research institute, the TIFR.
Chiles, me and the guys here, we were talking about that year MacArthur returned back to the Philippines.
I took Miss Delany home around 10:00, returned back to the film set, waited for Mr Mitchell to be released, then bought him back here just after midnight.
The letter confirming that is forthcoming.
Miss Derbeken cannot testify to the letter.
The letters... your father wrote...

Alternatives:

the letters were returned
the letters came back
the letters were sent back

This phrase is a correct passive construction indicating that someone returned the letters.

"the letters were returned"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone returned the letters to their original sender or location. It is a grammatically correct way to express the action of returning letters.

Examples:

The letters were returned to the sender.
All the letters were returned unopened.
The letters were returned by the post office.
She ensured that the letters were returned promptly.
It was discovered that the letters were returned to the wrong address.

Show examples from the web [+]

Only after successful completion of our mission will the letters be returned.
- And all my letters to you were returned.
Yes, but the letter was never returned.
She returned the letter unopened, and the purse both.
But the address she gave him was to a dog toy factory In wisconsin, so the letters kept getting returned.
He takes the letters from the returned books, screens them for The Judge.
We have the two cert fied letters returned unc aimed.
The documents drawn up in compliance with the letters rogatory shall be returned to the Court of Justice under the same conditions.
The documents drawn up in compliance with the letters rogatory shall be returned to the Court under the same conditions.
The documents drawn up in compliance with the letters rogatory shall be returned to the Court under the same conditions.
All my letters got returned, so I wanted to give this to you in person.
One of my letters was returned back to Tae-soo's home
- The bank returned our letter.
He was afraid she'd returned his letters.
I've already arranged for Mary's letters to be returned to them, seals intact.
Our letters are returned to us with the seals not even broken!
When she returned home, the letters were sealed, stamped and dropped in the box.
Even if all we do is express a view about social phenomena or if Hu Jia talks about the prison, when the prison authorities are not happy with it, our letters are confiscated or Hu Jia's letters are returned to him.
No, the letters weren't explicit, really.
The letters were received and registered by the Authority on 19 July 2005 (Event No 327172).

Alternatives:

the letters came back
the letters were sent back
the letters got returned
someone returned the letters

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the letters returned back vs the letters were returned