a course of two weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a course of two weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a duration or period of time for a specific event, program, or activity that lasts for two weeks. Example: "The training program will take place over a course of two weeks, starting on Monday."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As shown in Figure 6A, a mouse bearing a palpable tumor was treated with doxorubicin and prednisone for a course of two weeks.

Plosone

In the first study, a course of 8 weeks was no more effective than a course of two weeks [ 8].

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The study looked at 14 adults between 55 and 90 with mild cognitive impairments over a course of eight weeks.

Huffington Post

In these mice inflammation develops over a course of four weeks and both innate and adaptive immune responses are involved in this chronic model of colitis [ 28].

BMC Gastroenterology

Speaking at the Hague, President Obama said the US rejected the "notion that a referendum sloppily organised over the course of two weeks" would "be a valid process" and the West does not recognise the annexation of the peninsula.

Independent

Over the course of two weeks, a majority of those interviewed cited the economy as the crucial issue that would influence their vote next month.

The New York Times

Over the course of two weeks, a single human male produces enough sperm to impregnate every fertile woman on the planet.

Vice

Over the course of two weeks, a recruiter conducted two two-hour recruitment sessions that resulted in five patients expressing interest in our study.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Working on a five-paragraph essay will be much easier if you do a little each day over the course of two weeks than it would be if you saved it all for the night before.

WikiHow

The dancers were taught the choreography in small batches over the course of two weeks in a Malabar Hill park.

The New York Times

Together we worked long hours over the course of two weeks for a three-part series that ran on The New Yorker's Photo Booth and on Hoy's website.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the length of a treatment, study, or project, use "a course of two weeks" to clearly indicate the duration. For instance, "The patients underwent a course of two weeks of physical therapy."

Common error

Avoid using "a course of two weeks" when referring to a continuous, ongoing process rather than a defined period. Instead of saying "The river's pollution occurred over a course of two weeks", specify "over a period of two weeks" or "within two weeks" to better convey the gradual nature of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a course of two weeks" functions as a duration specifier, indicating the length of time for a particular activity, treatment, or program. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in describing medical treatments and project timelines.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a course of two weeks" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, primarily serving to specify the duration of an activity, treatment, or project. According to Ludwig, it appears in both scientific and news contexts, indicating a neutral register. While alternatives like "a fortnight" or "a two-week period" exist, "a course of two weeks" is a clear way to indicate a defined duration, especially in structured programs. It is important to differentiate this phrase from instances where a more gradual process is implied, where other expressions might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fortnight

Uses a more concise and traditional term for a two-week period.

a two-week period

Replaces "course" with the more direct term "period", emphasizing duration.

two weeks' duration

Emphasizes the length of time with a different word order.

a duration of two weeks

Similar to "a two-week period" but uses 'duration' to highlight the length.

a two-week interval

Specifies the time as an interval between events or actions.

a span of two weeks

Replaces 'course' with 'span' to emphasize the period's extent.

a term of two weeks

Suitable when referring to a specific period within a larger program or schedule.

a phase of two weeks

Implies that the two weeks are part of a larger process or cycle.

a cycle of two weeks

Similar to "a phase of two weeks" but might suggest recurring events.

a program lasting two weeks

Focuses on the program or activity's duration.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "a course of two weeks"?

You can use phrases like "a fortnight", "a two-week period", or "a duration of two weeks" depending on the context.

How do I use "a course of two weeks" in a sentence?

You can use "a course of two weeks" to describe the length of a treatment, study, or project. For example, "The study involved a course of two weeks of intensive training."

Is it correct to say "a two-weeks course" instead of "a course of two weeks"?

While "a two-week course" is grammatically correct and commonly used, "a course of two weeks" provides slightly more emphasis on the duration itself. Both are acceptable, but context might favor one over the other.

What is the difference between "a course of two weeks" and "over two weeks"?

"A course of two weeks" implies a structured program or treatment lasting that duration. "Over two weeks" simply means the duration extended beyond two weeks and might not be structured. For example, "The symptoms persisted over two weeks" suggests a longer, possibly undefined, timeframe.