[payments back or ago], [bills back or ago], [visits back or ago]
I have made up the sentences below.
(1a) Four or five visits ago, I accidently left my watch in this park. I couldn't find it when I came back the next day.
(1b) Four or five visits back, I accidently left my watch in this park. I couldn't find it when I came back the next day.
(2a) Four or five bills ago, I didn't pay the full amount. So, I was charged a fine.
(2a) Four or five bills back, I didn't pay the full amount. So, I was charged a fine.
(3a) Four or five payments ago, I forgot to let you stamp my invoice as proof of payment.
(3b) Four or five payments back, I forgot to let you stamp my invoice as proof of payment.
Some of my non-native English speaking friends think "ago" is correct and my other friends think "back" is correct. I am not sure which group of my friends is right. Please help me. Thanks.
Top answer
I'd use 'back' because 'ago' usually applies to time. Google Ngrams shows the 'ago' is almost never used in 'visits ago' or 'bills ago', and it can't find any uses of 'payments ago'. 'visits back' and 'bills back' are used, however.
- I'd use 'back' because 'ago' usually applies to time.
- Google Ngrams shows the 'ago' is almost never used in 'visits ago' or 'bills ago', and it can't find any uses of 'payments ago'.
- 'visits back' and 'bills back' are used, however.
- So the short answer is to use 'back'.
- CJ
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I'd use 'back' because 'ago' usually applies to time.
Google Ngrams shows the 'ago' is almost never used in 'visits ago' or 'bills ago', and it can't find any uses of 'payments ago'. 'visits back' and 'bills back' are used, however.
So the short answer is to use 'back'.
CJ
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