Previous week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Previous week" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to the week immediately before the current one. For example, "I completed the project in the previous week." Alternative expressions include "last week" and "the week before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Highlights from the previous week.

The New York Times

We had it the previous week".

The New York Times - Sports

(That happened the previous week).

The New York Times

Noy had turned 12 the previous week.

The New York Times

The previous week, his team lost at Troy.

The New York Times - Sports

The previous week was the only one smaller.

The New York Times

They had closed the previous week at $16.93.

The New York Times

Claims fell by 3,000 the previous week.

The New York Times

That was up from 9.18 million in the previous week.

The New York Times

The previous week he survived the threat of a strike.

The Guardian - Sport

The drop in the previous week was 5.8percentt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Previous week" when you need to be clear and avoid ambiguity, especially in formal or technical contexts where 'last week' might be misinterpreted if the timeframe isn't explicitly defined. For instance, use it when comparing data across specific, sequential weekly periods.

Common error

Avoid using "Previous week" when the context makes the timeframe unclear. If discussing events spanning multiple weeks, specify the exact dates instead of relying on "Previous week", which could cause confusion if the reader's understanding of the 'current' week differs from yours.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Previous week" functions as a temporal adjective phrase, specifying a time period. As Ludwig confirms, it's widely used to pinpoint the week immediately preceding the current one, clarifying when an event or action occurred. It's similar to 'last week' but often used for greater precision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Previous week" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed temporal phrase used to denote the week before the current one. According to Ludwig, its strength lies in its clarity and widespread applicability, from formal reports to casual conversations. While alternatives like "last week" exist, "Previous week" is preferred when precision is paramount. With support from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, "Previous week" remains a reliable choice for accurate temporal reference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Last week

More concise and commonly used alternative.

The week before

Emphasizes the sequential relationship to the current week.

The week prior

More formal synonym for 'the week before'.

The preceding week

Similar to 'the week prior', but with a slightly stronger emphasis on sequence.

A week ago

Indicates a specific duration from the present.

The week that just passed

More descriptive and informal.

The immediately preceding week

Adds emphasis on the temporal closeness.

In the week before this one

More verbose and less common alternative.

Seven days ago

Very specific duration, may lack context.

The week gone by

More poetic or literary alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "Previous week" in a sentence?

You can use "Previous week" to refer to the week immediately before the current one. For example, "Sales figures were significantly higher this week compared to the "Previous week"".

What's a simple alternative to "Previous week"?

A simpler alternative is "last week". However, "Previous week" provides more clarity in some contexts.

Is there a difference between "Previous week" and "The week before"?

"Previous week" and "the week before" are generally interchangeable, but "Previous week" can sound slightly more formal or precise.

When should I prefer "Previous week" over "Last week"?

Prefer "Previous week" when you want to ensure clarity, particularly in technical or formal writing, where "last week" might be ambiguous. For example, in a report comparing weekly data, "Previous week" leaves less room for misinterpretation.