Say it like this
- We need to add this to the backlog
- Can you pull that from the backlog?
- The backlog is getting too big
- Let's groom the backlog
- This is our top backlog priority
- We're clearing the backlog
Use it at work
Adding work
- I've added it to the backlog. We'll look at it in refinement.
- Can you create a ticket so it goes into the backlog?
Saying not now
- It's a good idea, but it'll sit in the backlog for now.
- That bug is in the backlog, but it's not a priority this sprint.
Planning
- Let's clean up the backlog. Half these tickets are out of date.
- The top of the backlog is ready for next sprint.
Don't say this
The backlog is never completely 'completed'—new items are always added. You work through prioritized items, not finish everything.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| backlog | All work not started yet, in priority order | Product owner | Always ongoing |
| sprint backlog | Work chosen for this sprint | The team | During one sprint |
| roadmap | High-level plan over months | Product leadership | Quarterly or yearly |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Which sentence sounds most like something a real engineer would say?
2. Which sentence uses 'backlog' incorrectly?
3. The product _____ contains all the features the client requested, but we can only work on the highest priority items each sprint.
4. Rewrite this more naturally: 'We need to finish all of the backlog tasks before the project ends.' (Hint: The backlog is never finished—consider rephrasing around prioritization or scope.)
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 6
"We need to add this to the backlog"
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More about Backlog
Real examples(4)
- in a planning meeting
"Let's add that request to the backlog and decide its priority on Monday."
- in sprint planning
"We pulled the top five items from the backlog into the sprint."
- in a standup
"I finished my ticket, so I will take the next item from the backlog."
- in a support meeting
"We have a backlog of two hundred open tickets after the outage."
More mistakes(2)
- ✕The backlog is our to-do list for today.✓The backlog is our list of work for the upcoming sprints or development cycles.
The backlog is medium- to long-term work, not daily tasks. Daily tasks come from the current sprint or board.
- ✕We backlogged the feature until next month.✓We added the feature to the backlog for consideration in a future sprint.
'Backlog' is a noun, not typically used as a verb in this way. Say 'added to the backlog' or 'deferred' instead.
Other forms(5)
- backlog noun (countable)
"The backlog has 150 items right now."
- backlog noun (uncountable)
"We have too much backlog to finish this year."
- in the backlog verb phrase
"That issue is still in the backlog, waiting for prioritization."
- backlog item adjective
"Each backlog item needs a clear acceptance criteria."
- add to the backlog verb phrase
"Please add this request to the backlog for review."
Often used with(6)
- clear the backlog · Work through and complete backlog items
- prioritize the backlog · Arrange items in order of importance
- groom the backlog · Refine and prepare backlog items for sprint planning
- pull from the backlog · Select items to work on in the current sprint
- backlog refinement · Regular meeting to update and organize backlog items
- growing backlog · Backlog that keeps increasing with new requests
Similar words(6)
- work queue · Similar meaning, but less common in Agile; more generic
- pipeline · Work waiting to be done, but emphasizes flow and stages
- to-do list · Simpler term, but usually refers to shorter-term tasks; backlog is bigger-picture
- product backlog · Formal Scrum term for the complete list managed by Product Owner
- sprint backlog · Items selected from the product backlog for the current sprint
- issues list · Often used for bug tracking; narrower scope than backlog
Opposites(5)
- active sprint
- in progress
- completed
- deployed
- shipped
Questions(8)
- What is a product backlog in Scrum?
- The single list of everything the product might need, owned by the product owner. Before each sprint the team pulls the top items into the sprint backlog.
- How do you use “backlog” in a meeting?
- “Good idea, let's add it to the backlog” means not now, but it is recorded. “Backlog grooming” or “refinement” is the meeting where the team cleans up and orders the list.
- What is a backlog in agile?
- The backlog is the prioritized list of work a team may do, such as features, bugs and technical tasks. The items at the top are the most important and the most clearly defined.
- What is the difference between a product backlog and a sprint backlog?
- The product backlog contains everything the team might build. The sprint backlog contains the items the team chose for the current sprint and the plan to finish them.
- What is backlog refinement or grooming?
- It is a regular meeting where the team clarifies backlog items, adds detail, estimates them and removes ones that no longer matter, so upcoming work is ready to start.
- What does it is in the backlog really mean?
- It means the work is recorded but not scheduled. It often means it will not happen soon, so ask for a priority or a date if timing matters.
- How do I say no politely using the backlog?
- Say: I have added it to the backlog, and we will prioritize it at the next planning session. It is honest and does not promise a date.
- Can backlog mean a pile of unfinished work?
- Yes. Outside agile, a backlog is any build-up of work waiting to be done, for example a backlog of support tickets or orders.
