write back to

Meaning

This expression means to reply to someone who sent you a letter, email, or text message. It shows that communication is ongoing and is commonly used in both personal and casual business relationships.

Examples

• I need to write back to Sarah before she thinks I'm ignoring her.

  I need to write back to Sarah before she thinks I'm ignoring her.

• Did you ever write back to your pen pal in Spain?

  Did you ever write back to your pen pal in Spain?

• He promised to write back to me as soon as he got my letter.

  He promised to write back to me as soon as he got my letter.

• It's polite to write back to people within a couple of days.

  It's polite to write back to people within a couple of days.

• She sat down at her desk to write back to all her old friends.

  She sat down at her desk to write back to all her old friends.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I will write back Sarah tonight.

  ✓ I will write back to Sarah tonight.

  The phrasal verb 'write back' requires the preposition 'to' when it is followed by an object (the person receiving the reply).

• ✗ She wrote me back to.

  ✓ She wrote back to me.

  If you put the object pronoun ('me') right after the verb 'wrote', you do not need 'to' at the end of the phrase. Otherwise, use 'wrote back to me'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I received a long email from my uncle, so I need to ___ him tonight.

  💡 Reply to someone using text or email.

  Show answer

  write back to

• If you don't ___ your customers, they will find another company.

  💡 Answer their messages.

  Show answer

  write back to