0
Chaqe Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Go Back To

I need some guidance on using "go back to":

"Top military leaders have been studied going back to 600 B.C. "

Does it mean 1) the act of studying started in the year 600 BC, or 2) top military leaders from 600 BC and on have been studied?
  

Top answer

C. "Does it mean 1) the act of studying started in the year 600 BC, or 2) top military leaders from 600 BC and on have been studied? It's not clear.

— Enoon

  • C.
  • "Does it mean 1) the act of studying started in the year 600 BC, or 2) top military leaders from 600 BC and on have been studied?
  • It's not clear.
  • My first interpretation was that the leaders are from 600 BC on, and that is the more sensible one.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
chaqeI need some guidance on using "go back to": "Top military leaders have been studied going back to 600 B.C. "Does it mean 1) the act of studying started in the year 600 BC, or 2) top military leaders from 600 BC and on have been studied?
It's not clear. My first interpretation was that the leaders are from 600 BC on, and that is the more sensible one.
0
0
Would this be ambiguous too:

"That method has been in common use going back to the 1950s."
?
0
0
I find that informal, loose and slangy, but unambiguous. It sounds like the writer is trying too hard to be a cool dude—what would have been wrong with "since"? Also, I would expect present tense with "going back to": That method is in common use going back to the 1950s.
0

Related Questions