before this week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before this week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period that occurred prior to the current week. Example: "I had never seen such a beautiful sunset before this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I wish I had been more paying attention to this race before this week.

Huffington Post

These officers were not motivated to report their concerns by recent media coverage as this was done before this week.

Independent

Which leaves one question: Why didn't the Mets resolve this arbitration issue, for better or worse, before this week?

The New York Times

It was doing so even before this week.

The Economist

"Before this week, everyone was playing really well," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

Sadly, its image was looking grubby even before this week.

The Economist

Before this week I had never been in a KFC.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Trump was very unpopular in Britain before this week.

The New Yorker

Her career winnings before this week totaled $69,717.

The New York Times - Sports

Before this week, he had eight career 300 games.

The New York Times - Sports

Everything we know, we knew before this week.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before this week" to clearly establish a timeframe that ended at the start of the current week. This helps avoid ambiguity about when something occurred.

Common error

Avoid using "before this week" when you actually mean "earlier this week". "Before this week" refers to the period preceding the current week, while "earlier this week" refers to a time within the current week.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before this week" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating a time frame preceding the current week. As supported by Ludwig, this temporal phrase specifies when an action occurred or a state existed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before this week" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a timeframe that occurred prior to the current week. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming its appropriate use and meaning. While its usage is prevalent in news and media, a more formal alternative like "prior to this week" may be preferred in academic or highly professional settings. Remember to differentiate it from "earlier this week", which refers to a time within the current week. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, you can confidently and accurately use "before this week" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prior to this week

A more formal way of saying "before this week", indicating a time preceding the current week.

preceding this week

A formal and slightly less common synonym for "before this week".

earlier this week

Specifies a time within the current week, but prior to the moment of speaking or writing.

in the days before this week

Highlights the days just before the current week, emphasizing a short timeframe.

in the week prior

Indicates the week immediately before the current one.

previously this week

Highlights an event that occurred earlier within the ongoing week.

leading up to this week

Focuses on the period immediately preceding the current week, suggesting a build-up to recent events.

up until this week

Emphasizes the continuity of a situation until the start of the present week.

last week

Refers specifically to the week that immediately preceded the current week.

until recently

Indicates a time period that ended not long ago, often implying a change.

FAQs

How is "before this week" different from "earlier this week"?

"Before this week" indicates a period of time that ended prior to the start of the current week. In contrast, "earlier this week" refers to a time within the current week, but before now.

What's a more formal alternative to "before this week"?

A more formal alternative to "before this week" is "prior to this week". Both phrases mean the same thing, but "prior to" is often used in more formal writing.

Can I use "before this week" to refer to something that happened last week?

Yes, "before this week" can include events that happened last week, as it encompasses all the time leading up to the current week. If you want to be more specific, you could simply say "last week".

Is "before this week" suitable for academic writing?

While "before this week" is grammatically correct, it might be considered too informal for some academic contexts. In those cases, consider using a more formal alternative such as "prior to this week" or "preceding this week".