already a week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already a week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a week has passed since a certain event or situation occurred. Example: "It's hard to believe it's already a week since we last met."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

One £3m instalment due to the Scottish Premier League is already a week late, prompting fears that Setanta has finally run out of cash.

The Guardian

I must be brief this month, to get this slip printed and despatched in reasonable time (already a week later than normal).

The Guardian

It was already a week into the soccer season, and half of his team, including Juan and Stephen, still had to pass a required annual medical exam -- they had been scheduled to see the visiting school physician on the morning of the disaster.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And they had already lost a week of shopping because of the storm.

The New York Times

Their officials have already done a week's tour of ACLEDA's operations in Cambodia.

The Economist

For the Ford family this has already been a week to cherish.

The Guardian - Sport

This time the weekly rise was smaller than typical, in part because claims had already surged a week earlier.

The New York Times

Stern has already canceled a week of preseason games, 43 in all, and will soon have to wipe out a second week if no agreement is reached.

The New York Times - Sports

In a year when our students have already missed a week or more of school because of Hurricane Sandy, a strike would be totally irresponsible".

The New York Times

The two lawyers knew that they needed to act quickly – it had already been a week since Isis had released footage of Alan Henning's execution.

The Guardian

Before the first shuttlecock is fired in anger here, the powers that be have already spent a week that would have embarrassed the average elected public official.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already a week" to emphasize that a week has passed, often sooner than expected or with significant implications. For instance, "It's already a week since the project deadline, and progress is lagging."

Common error

Avoid using "already a week" when simply stating a duration. Instead, use it to convey surprise, urgency, or a sense of time passing quickly. For example, prefer "It has been a week" over "already a week" if you're just noting the duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already a week" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the duration since an event occurred. It expresses that a week has passed, often emphasizing the passage of time or a sense of urgency. Ludwig confirms this usage across multiple contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "already a week" is a versatile expression used to denote the duration since a particular event, frequently implying that time has passed quickly or that something should have happened within that time. As Ludwig confirms, it appears in various contexts, from news reports to casual conversations, maintaining a neutral register. Its primary function is to highlight the passage of time, often with a sense of surprise or urgency. While grammatically correct, it should be used when emphasizing the time elapsed, rather than simply stating a duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's been a week

A more conversational way to express that a week has gone by.

a week ago

A simple and direct way to say that something happened one week ago.

a week has passed

Emphasizes the completion of a week rather than focusing on the "already" aspect.

one week has elapsed

Uses more formal language to indicate the passing of a week.

a week's time has passed

Emphasizes the duration of time that has elapsed.

a week in the past

Highlights that the week is in the past from the current time.

one week prior

Indicates a week before a specific point in time.

seven days since

Emphasizes the number of days since a particular event.

seven days have gone by

Specifies the duration in days instead of weeks.

one week from then

Refers to a week from a specific point in time in the past.

FAQs

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

Use "already a week" to emphasize that a week has passed, especially when implying that time has moved quickly or that something should have been done in that time. For example: "It's "already a week" since the conference, and I still haven't followed up with the contacts I made."

What's a similar phrase to "already a week"?

Similar phrases include "a week has passed", "it's been a week", or "one week ago", depending on the specific context and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "it's already been a week"?

Yes, "it's already been a week" is grammatically correct and conveys the same meaning as ""already a week"" when used to emphasize the passage of time. The former is just a more verbose expression.

What implication does using "already" add to the phrase "a week"?

The word "already" adds an element of surprise, perhaps implying that the time passed more quickly than anticipated. It also suggests that something should have happened or been completed within that time frame. For example, "It's "already a week" since the event, so I should send a thank you note soon."