Over the last week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Over the last week" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to events or situations that have occurred during the past week. Example: "Over the last week, I have noticed significant improvements in my productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Over the last week I've had a glimpse of what that blessed world might be like.

The New York Times

Over the last week of talks, each side accused the other of misrepresenting its proposals.

The New York Times - Sports

Over the last week, the usual order of this world-shaking choice was reversed.

The New York Times

Over the last week, Italy has rescued around 10,000 migrants from the Mediterranean Sea.

BBC

Over the last week, the Clippers had a big win over the Trail Blazers in Portland.

Los Angeles Times

Over the last week, the government has sent mixed messages on its stance toward the situation.

Huffington Post

Over the last week, how embarrassed or self conscious have you been because of your skin?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Over the last week, how much has your skin influenced the clothes you wear?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Over the last week, how itchy, sore, painful or stinging has your skin been?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Over the last week, how much has your skin caused any sexual difficulties?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Over the last week, has your skin prevented you from working or studying?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "over the last week" to provide a time frame for recent events or changes. It helps establish a clear context for your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "over the last week" when a more specific date or timeframe is appropriate. For example, instead of saying "Sales have increased over the last week", specify if the increase happened on a particular day or during a shorter period to provide more clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Over the last week" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying the time frame in which an action occurred. Ludwig examples showcase it providing temporal context to various events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Over the last week" is a very common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to specify that something has occurred within the past seven days. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves to provide a recent timeframe for events, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that you are referring to events that have already happened and consider whether a more specific timeframe might be necessary for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In the past week

Replaces "over" with "in", slightly shifting the focus to the inclusion within the week rather than the duration.

During the last week

Substitutes "over" with "during", emphasizing the timeframe in which the events occurred.

Within the last week

Highlights the events that took place inside the boundary of the last week.

For the past week

Emphasizes the duration of the week leading up to the present.

In recent days

Uses a less specific timeframe, referring to the immediate past without a precise seven-day period.

Lately

A more general term indicating recent activity without a specific timeframe.

Recently

Similar to lately, but can imply events that occurred a little further in the past.

In the week gone by

A more idiomatic expression for the past week.

During the previous week

More formal and specifies the week immediately preceding the current one.

The week before

Shorter, more informal reference to the preceding week.

FAQs

How can I use "Over the last week" in a sentence?

Use "Over the last week" to indicate that something has happened or changed during the past seven days. For example, "Over the last week, the company's stock price has risen significantly."

What are some alternatives to "Over the last week"?

Alternatives include "in the past week", "during the last week", or "recently", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is there a difference between "Over the last week" and "In the last week"?

While both phrases are similar, "Over the last week" emphasizes a period of time, while "In the last week" focuses on events that occurred within that timeframe. The choice depends on the specific emphasis you want to convey.

Can I use "Over the last week" when referring to future events?

No, "Over the last week" should only be used to refer to events that have already occurred within the past seven days. For future events, use phrases like "in the coming week" or "during the next week".