about two weeks ago

USAGE SUMMARY

'about two weeks ago' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about a past event or experience that happened a few weeks before the time of speaking. For example: "I went to the store about two weeks ago and they had a great sale on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

About two weeks ago.

The Washington Post

About two weeks ago, that book came out.

The New York Times

But about two weeks ago, things began to change.

The New York Times

About two weeks ago, Corder separated from his wife.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And so slices returned to $1 about two weeks ago.

The New York Times

The first one was in Basra about two weeks ago.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

This is about tomorrow.

The New York Times

Fast forward to about 2003.

The New York Times

It's always about tomorrow.

The New York Times - Sports

Edit count: About 5,000.

BBC

A decade ago, there were about 8,000.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about two weeks ago" when providing a general timeframe that doesn't require exact precision. It's suitable for casual conversations, news reports, and academic writing where approximation is acceptable.

Common error

Avoid replacing "about two weeks ago" with an exact date if the specific day is not important to the context. Over-specifying can clutter your writing and distract from the main point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about two weeks ago" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by specifying when an action or event occurred. It provides a general indication of the timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about two weeks ago" is a common and versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate a timeframe of approximately fourteen days in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media, followed by Academia, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. While precision is not its primary function, it effectively sets a temporal reference point without unnecessary detail. Related phrases offer alternatives that vary in formality and emphasis, allowing writers to tailor their language to specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately a fortnight ago

Uses "fortnight" for a more formal or British English feel.

around a couple of weeks back

More informal and colloquial.

in the past couple of weeks

Slightly less specific, covering a small range around two weeks.

two weeks prior

More formal and emphasizes the temporal sequence.

roughly a fortnight in the past

Combines approximation with a more formal term.

fourteen days earlier

Very precise and formal, avoiding the approximation.

some two weeks before

Emphasizes the "about" through "some" and uses a slightly more literary tone.

two weeks from then

Changes the point of reference to a past event.

almost two weeks gone

Focuses on the passage of time since the event.

nearly two weeks in the rearview

Informal and evocative, implying the event is receding into the past.

FAQs

How can I use "about two weeks ago" in a sentence?

You can use "about two weeks ago" to indicate that something occurred roughly fourteen days in the past. For instance, "I saw that movie "about two weeks ago"".

What can I say instead of "about two weeks ago"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately a fortnight ago", "around a couple of weeks back", or "two weeks prior" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "about two weeks ago" or give an exact date?

If the precise date isn't crucial to your message, ""about two weeks ago"" is often sufficient and avoids unnecessary detail. Use a specific date only if it adds important context or clarity.

What's the difference between "about two weeks ago" and "a couple of weeks ago"?

The phrases ""about two weeks ago"" and "a couple of weeks ago" are very similar. "About two weeks ago" is slightly more specific, while "a couple of weeks ago" is a more general approximation. The choice depends on the desired level of precision.