The week gone by

USAGE SUMMARY

"the week gone by" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to the week that has just passed. An example is: "Reflecting on the week gone by, I realized how much I've accomplished." Alternative expressions include "the past week" and "last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

While you plot your pranks for tomorrow (make them good and you could catch the Green Party's eye!), test your knowledge of the week gone by.

The New Yorker

All around, Poland's youth tribes are doing the Friday night thing: doing to their memories of the week gone by what half a century of Communist rule did to free enterprise.

The Guardian - Travel

[ image: /photos/590954dd1c7a8e33fb38b3aa] While you plot your pranks for tomorrow (make them good and you could catch the Green Party's eye!), test your knowledge of the week gone by.

The New Yorker

By Samantha Henig March 31 , 2011[ image: /photos/590954dd1c7a8e33fb38b3aa] While you plot your pranks for tomorrow (make them good and you could catch the Green Party's eye!), test your knowledge of the week gone by.

The New Yorker

Lorene Gurneau, a school bus driver from Red Lake who knew Mr. Weise, said news of the arrest had shocked the ordinarily isolated community that was already reeling from the violence, the mourning and the sudden national spotlight of the week gone by.

The New York Times

Late-night music designed to soothe away the problems of the week gone by.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Grace became harsher as the week went by.

The Guardian

"The week went by and she did not call me.

The New York Times - Sports

As the week went by, their relationship had become more intuitive.

The New Yorker

Much of the week went by in a blur of meetings, he said.

The New York Times

But the children stayed up late and the adults were tired; the week went by and the game boxes stayed unopened.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the week gone by" to add a touch of formality or reflectiveness when summarizing or reviewing events. It works well in journalistic or academic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "the week gone by" in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "last week" are more appropriate for everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the week gone by" functions as a temporal reference, specifically indicating the week that has recently concluded. It often serves as an introductory element to summarize or reflect upon events that occurred during that period, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the week gone by" is a grammatically sound phrase used to reference the immediately preceding week, with a subtle formal tone that is validated by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in News & Media. For simpler, more casual contexts, alternatives like "last week" are often more suitable. When aiming for a reflective or slightly elevated tone, "the week gone by" is an appropriate choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last week

This is a more common and direct way to refer to the previous week.

the previous week

More formal synonym, suitable for more formal contexts.

the past week

Similar meaning, slightly broader in implication.

the week before

Indicates sequence, positioning the mentioned week in relation to the present.

the week concluding

Highlights end of week, focusing more on a sense of completion.

the week that elapsed

Emphasizes the passing of time.

the week that just ended

More explicit and descriptive.

the recent week

Broader term highlighting recent events.

the immediately preceding week

Much more formal and precise.

the seven days past

A literal description of the period.

FAQs

What's a simple substitute for "the week gone by"?

The most straightforward alternative is "last week", suitable for almost any context.

How does "the week gone by" compare to "the past week"?

While both refer to the same timeframe, "the week gone by" has a slightly more formal or reflective tone compared to "the past week".

Is it correct to use "the week gone by" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "the week gone by" might sound overly formal in casual settings. Consider using "last week" instead.

Can "the week gone by" be used to introduce a summary of events?

Yes, it can effectively introduce a summary or reflection on recent events, especially in writing or presentations. For example: "In "the week gone by", we've seen significant developments in..."