in back of
behind (informal AmE)
- An informal American way to say behind (mostly physical location).
- In formal writing or figurative meanings, prefer behind.
- Don't confuse it with in the back of (= inside the rear part).
Controls
Drag to rotate / Scroll to zoom / Pinch to zoom
Examples
Spatial examples
The garage is in back of the house.
A garden is in back of the shop.
Related prepositions
Key differences
in back of is an informal American variant of behind (mostly physical location). In formal writing and figurative meanings, behind is safer. Don't confuse it with in the back of (= inside the rear part).
Mostly the same meaning. in back of sounds more casual/AmE; behind is the neutral default and works for figurative uses.
in back of = behind (outside). in the back of = inside the rear part of something (inside).
Quick check questions (decision tree)
Is it a physical location behind something (outside)?
Yes -> in back of works in casual AmE (≈ behind).
Is it formal writing, or do you want the safest neutral choice?
Yes -> use behind.
Do you mean inside the rear part (in a car/room/bus)?
Yes -> use in the back of.
Is it figurative (progress/reason) rather than physical location?
Yes -> use behind (behind schedule, the reason behind...).
Did you forget of?
Yes -> the fixed phrase is in back of + noun.
Common collocations
Places & buildings
Everyday objects
People & positions
Common mistakes
Avoid: The garage is in back the house.
Use: The garage is in back of the house.
Reason: The fixed phrase is in back of + noun. Don't drop of.
Avoid: My bag is in back of the car. (inside)
Use: My bag is in the back of the car.
Reason: in back of means behind the car (outside). in the back of means inside the rear part.
Avoid: The reason is in back of the delay.
Use: The reason is behind the delay.
Reason: For figurative meanings (reason/progress), behind is natural. in back of is mainly physical and informal.
Mini quiz
Question 1
Choose the more casual American option: The garage is ___ the house.
Choose an answer
Question 2
Choose the best phrase: My backpack is ___ the car (inside, near the trunk).
Choose an answer
Question 3
Choose the natural option: We're ___ schedule.
Choose an answer
Quick FAQ
What does "in back of" mean?+
It means behind (informal, mostly American English), usually for physical location.
When should I use "in back of"?+
Use it in casual spoken American English to describe physical position behind something: The garage is in back of the house.
What is the difference between "in back of" and "behind"?+
In most spatial situations they mean the same. in back of is more casual/AmE; behind is the neutral default and is also used in formal writing and figurative meanings (behind schedule, the reason behind...).
What is the difference between "in back of" and "in the back of"?+
in back of (≈ behind) usually means behind something outside. in the back of means inside the rear part. Example: My bag is in the back of the car (inside) vs The bike is in back of the car (outside).
Can "in back of" be used for time expressions?+
Mostly no. For progress/time language, behind is much more common (behind schedule).
What is a common mistake when using "in back of"?+
Two common mistakes: dropping of (in back the house ✗) and confusing in back of (outside) with in the back of (inside).
What are common collocations with "in back of"?+
High-frequency examples: in back of the house, in back of the store, in back of the school, in back of the building, in back of the car, in back of the line.
How can I remember "in back of" quickly?+
Memorize one pair: in back of = behind (casual AmE, mostly physical). Then add the contrast: in the back of = inside the rear part.