before the weekend

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "before the weekend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a time period that ends at the beginning of the weekend. For example, "I need to finish this project before the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A verdict is not expected before the weekend.

Independent

"We've got another couple of days' training before the weekend.

Independent

He planned to make calls to Seattle before the weekend.

The New York Times

Clearance is unlikely to come before the weekend.

The Guardian - Sport

"I need to know how they look before the weekend.

The Guardian - Sport

The Titans may also get a chance to observe Manning throw before the weekend is out.

The New York Times

Though anything could happen, he should be able to make it before the weekend is out.

The New York Times

Even before the weekend play began, the Italians had Europe on their minds.

The New York Times - Sports

I've never in my life played four centre halves before the weekend.

Independent

"I faxed him before the tournament and I will again before the weekend," Doherty said.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, the Titans won in Pittsburgh, which few people had predicted before the weekend.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting deadlines, use "before the weekend" to create a clear and easily understood timeframe, particularly in professional settings. For example: "Please submit your reports before the weekend."

Common error

Avoid using "before the weekend" when you actually mean something different, such as "during the week" or "by the end of the week". Be precise to avoid confusion. Ensure your timeframe clearly excludes any part of the weekend itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before the weekend" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, indicating when an action should be completed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It modifies verbs, clauses, or sentences by specifying a timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "before the weekend" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate a timeframe concluding prior to the weekend. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, though it can also appear in scientific and business communications. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives like "prior to the weekend" may be preferable in highly formal settings. Ensure clarity by using more specific language if "before the weekend" is not precise enough for your needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to the weekend

Replaces "before" with "prior to", adding a slightly more formal tone.

ahead of the weekend

Uses "ahead of" to convey the same meaning as "before", offering a slight variation in wording.

preceding the weekend

Uses the more formal "preceding" instead of "before".

leading up to the weekend

Emphasizes the period of time leading to the weekend, rather than a specific cut-off.

before Saturday

Directly references the start of the weekend as the deadline.

by Friday

Specifies a concrete day as the cutoff point.

in the days before the weekend

Lengthens the phrase, focusing on multiple days leading up to the weekend.

in anticipation of the weekend

Focuses on the expectation of the weekend rather than just the time preceding it.

earlier in the week

Provides a less specific timeframe, referring to any point earlier in the week.

during the week

This refers to the full duration of the week, which is less specific than "before the weekend".

FAQs

How can I use "before the weekend" in a sentence?

You can use "before the weekend" to indicate a deadline or a time frame that concludes before the weekend begins. For instance, "I need to finish this task before the weekend" or "Everything must be completed "prior to the weekend"".

What is a more formal alternative to "before the weekend"?

A more formal alternative to "before the weekend" is "prior to the weekend". It carries a slightly more professional tone suitable for formal communication.

Is there a difference between "before the weekend" and "by the weekend"?

Yes, "before the weekend" implies action should be completed ahead of the weekend, whereas "by the weekend" suggests the action can be completed anytime until the weekend starts, but not during the weekend itself. It's a subtle but important distinction for setting expectations.

Can I use "before the weekend" in academic writing?

While "before the weekend" is generally acceptable, in formal academic writing, it may be more appropriate to use more precise language such as "prior to Saturday" or "by Friday evening" to avoid any ambiguity.