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Magda Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Look back

Hi,
I came across this sentence: "Whenever I look back at those days I smile" and I wonder whether it is correct. I meas "is" at the correct preposition here? Shouldn't "on" be used?

Thank you
  

Top answer

>I meas "is" at the correct preposition here? " You have a point. At the New York Times: "looking back at those days" 3 Results "looking back on those days" 6 Results To me, both are fine.

— Marius Hancu

  • >I meas "is" at the correct preposition here?
  • " You have a point.
  • At the New York Times: "looking back at those days" 3 Results "looking back on those days" 6 Results To me, both are fine.
  • "On" means, IMO, that the "light of memory/thought" covers the surface of the object looked back on, while "at" shows its direction.
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2 Answers
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>I meas "is" at the correct preposition here?

You mean "at."

You have a point. At the New York Times:

"looking back at those days" 3 Results
"looking back on those days" 6 Results

To me, both are fine. "On" means, IMO, that the "light of memory/thought" covers the surface of the object looked
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Sorry for the mistakes. Yes, I wondered whether "at" is correctly used in the sentence. I came across this sentence in my text book. I looked up "look back" in Cambridge Dictionary and I found this example: "It wasn't such a bad experience when I look back on it."
Therefore I wondered whether you can use both "at" and "on" after "look back" or whether there is a mistake in my text book.
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