To back up a digital file is to make an extra copy that can be used if the original is lost.

The idea

In neutral everyday English, a noun can follow the particle or come between the verb and particle: back up the file or back the file up. A pronoun must go between them: back it up.

Examples

  • I back up my photos every Sunday.
  • Please back the report up before you change it.
  • Mina backed up her files on an external drive.
  • This folder is important, so back it up tonight.
  • Our team backs up the database before each update.
  • Have you backed up the videos from your trip?

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Watch out

Do not say back up it. Put the pronoun between the two parts. The noun backup is normally one word; the verb is two.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Please back ___ the documents today. (up / out)

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    up

    up completes the verb for making an extra copy of the documents.

  2. Choose the correct option. The file matters. Back ___ up now. (it / they)

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    it

    it refers to the singular file and fits between the two parts.

  3. Choose the correct option. Yesterday we ___ up the project. (backed / back)

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    backed

    backed places the action in the past, as required by yesterday.

Use it today

Say what you back up and where you keep the extra copy.