Legal jargon referring to previous text

"Referring back" often sounds wordy, vague, or grammatically shaky. Editors usually prefer a clearer verb plus a locator or a short restatement: "refer to," "as noted earlier," or simply repeat the fact.

Quick answer

"Referring back" is usually unnecessary or misused. Prefer "refer to," "as noted earlier," or restate the point. If you mean "return to," use "refer back to" and include the preposition "to."

"Refer to" is the standard construction: "He referred to chapter 2."
Use "as mentioned earlier" to remind readers of prior content without forcing them to search.
Name the item (section, file, date) instead of pointing vaguely.

What's wrong with "referring back"?

"Back" often repeats what "refer" already implies. The phrase can also drop the preposition "to," producing ungrammatical constructions. Vague pointers force readers to hunt for the original item.

Redundant: "refer" already points to something earlier.
Grammatical slip: writers omit the required preposition ("referring the report").
Ambiguous: a vague pointer makes the reader search the document for context.

Wrong: I'm referring back the memo you sent yesterday.
Right: I'm referring to the memo you sent yesterday.
Wrong: As I am referring back above, we agreed on the timeline.
Right: As I mentioned above, we agreed on the timeline.

Grammar: gerunds, prepositions, and the correct constructions

"Refer" and "referring" require the preposition "to" when pointing at something: "refer to the report," "referring to the chart." Add "back" only when you mean "again" or "return to."

"refer/referring + to" is the correct core construction.
Include "back" only for repetition or a deliberate return to an earlier point.
Avoid omitting "to": "referring the report" is incorrect.

Wrong: Referring back the previous findings, we changed our model.
Right: Referring to the previous findings, we changed our model.
Wrong: We need to referring back to the data.
Right: We need to refer back to the data.

Hyphenation and spacing (mechanical rules)

Keep "referring back" as two words. Do not hyphenate it. Hyphenation is only appropriate when a multi-word phrase becomes a compound adjective before a noun, and even then reword for clarity.

"referring-back" is incorrect; write two words.
Prefer rewording: "the earlier point" or "the previously mentioned item."
No special spacing rules-punctuate normally.

Wrong: The referring-back issue was discussed.
Right: The earlier issue was discussed.

Real usage and tone: when "refer back" is acceptable

In casual speech or a quick chat, "refer back" is fine: "I'll refer back to that later." In formal writing, give a precise locator or restate the point so readers don't have to hunt.

Casual: "Let's refer back to that later." - acceptable in conversation.
Formal: Use "as noted earlier," "see Section 2," or restate the data.
Instructional: Provide an exact locator: "see Appendix B, page 4."

Casual - Usage: "We'll refer back to this idea next week."
Work - Usage: "As noted above, the data indicate a 15% increase."
Work - Usage: "Refer to Appendix B, page 4, for the full table."

Examples by context: work, school, and casual rewrites

Each pair shows a common wrong sentence and a clearer rewrite. Swap in your document names, section numbers, or dates.

Work - Wrong: Please see the reports I am referring back to in my previous email.
Work - Right: Please see the reports I referred to in my previous email (attached: Q1_sales.pdf).
Work - Wrong: We keep referring back to the same KPI, which is slowing the meeting.
Work - Right: We keep returning to the same KPI (customer-churn), which is slowing the meeting.
Work - Wrong: Referring back to the contract, we must obtain signatures.
Work - Right: As per the contract (Section 4.2), we must obtain signatures.
School - Wrong: I'm referring back to chapter 3 for my thesis.
School - Right: I'm citing Chapter 3 (Smith, 2019) in my thesis.
School - Wrong: As referring back stated, the experiment failed.
School - Right: As previously stated, the experiment failed.
School - Wrong: Referring back the lecture, the professor explained the error.
School - Right: Referring to the lecture, the professor explained the error with a live example.
Casual - Wrong: Just referring back what you said earlier - I'm with you.
Casual - Right: Going back to what you said earlier-I'm with you.
Casual - Wrong: I'm referring back that I don't like pineapple on pizza.
Casual - Right: Just a reminder: I don't like pineapple on pizza.
Casual - Wrong: Referring back our plan, we'll meet at 5.
Casual - Right: About our plan: we'll meet at 5.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence, not the phrase alone. Context makes the right choice obvious: sometimes a brief restatement is the fastest fix.

Quick wrong/right pairs (copy these replacements)

Short pairs for fast fixes. Use the right-hand option directly when editing.

Wrong: Referring back to the appendix, we found errors.
Right: We found errors in Appendix A.
Wrong: She kept referring back her notes during the presentation.
Right: She kept referring to her notes during the presentation.
Wrong: Refer back the file I uploaded last week.
Right: See the file I uploaded last week (Report_v2.xlsx).
Wrong: As referring above, this policy changed.
Right: As noted above, this policy has changed.
Wrong: We will refer back our earlier discussion.
Right: We will return to our earlier discussion.
Wrong: They keep referring back to the vague notes.
Right: They keep returning to the vague notes; clarify the notes or attach a summary.

Rewrite help: fix your sentence in three steps

Three editing steps: identify the referent, choose a precise verb or restatement, add a locator or short quote if readers need the detail immediately.

Step 1: Name what you point to (report, Chapter 2, meeting on March 5).
Step 2: Pick a verb: "refer to," "return to," "mention," "consult," or restate.
Step 3: Add a locator (section number, page, filename) or restate the key fact.

Original: "I'm referring back to the points made in the last meeting because they were overlooked."
Rewrite: "I'm returning to the points from the March 3 meeting because they were overlooked."
Original: "Referring back to the document attached, please confirm."
Rewrite: "Please confirm after reviewing the attached document (Proposal_v1.docx)."
Original: "She kept referring back to her notes during the interview, which made her seem uncertain."
Rewrite: "She consulted her notes during the interview, which made her seem uncertain."
Original: "Referring back the contract, we must obtain signatures."
Rewrite: "Per the contract (Section 4.2), we must obtain signatures."

Memory tricks and quick patterns to remember

Use the RAS mnemonic: Refer (use "refer to"), Anchor (give a locator), State (restate the key fact). Run RAS whenever you see a "referring" phrasing.

Pattern 1 - Refer to X: "Refer to Appendix A" (short pointer).
Pattern 2 - As mentioned earlier: "As noted above" (reminder).
Pattern 3 - Restate the fact: "The sample size was 200" (give the info immediately).

Usage: Example RAS: "Refer to Appendix A" (Refer), "see Section 2" (Anchor), "the sample size was 200" (State).

Similar mistakes to watch for

Writers also reach for archaic or legal-sounding words that bulk up text. Replace them with plain-English alternatives and fix malformed pointers like "as referring above" or "relate back to."

"aforementioned" → "the above" or "previously mentioned"
"as referring above" → "as noted above" or rewrite the sentence
"relate back to" → "relate to" or "connect to" depending on meaning
Avoid legalese like "aforesaid"-use simple phrasing.

Wrong: The aforesaid documents are attached.
Right: The documents mentioned above are attached.
Wrong: We need to relate back the new findings to the hypothesis.
Right: We need to relate the new findings to the hypothesis.

FAQ

Is "refer back to" always wrong?

No. Use "refer back to" when you specifically mean "return to" or repeat a prior point. Use "refer to" when you merely point the reader toward something.

Can I use "referring back" in formal writing?

Use caution. In formal writing prefer precise locators like "as noted above," "see Section 3," or a brief restatement. Reserve "refer back to" for a deliberate revisit.

How do I fix "referring back the report"?

Add the missing preposition and clarify: "referring to the report" or better: "as discussed in the report (Q1_summary.pdf)" or "see the attached report."

What's the difference between "refer to" and "refer back to"?

"Refer to" points the reader to something. "Refer back to" implies returning to or repeating a previous reference. Use "back" only when repetition is intended.

I prefer short reminders in emails. Any quick guideline?

One-line restatements work best. Instead of "referring back to my last email," write "As I mentioned in my last email (Feb 2), please approve the budget." Naming the date or subject saves readers time.

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