by several weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by several weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration of time that is longer than a few weeks, often in contexts related to scheduling or deadlines. Example: "The project has been delayed by several weeks due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If voters reject the tax increases, schools and other public entities would be subject to severe automatic cuts, which include shortening the academic year by several weeks.

The New York Times

Japan lagged behind, by several weeks.

The Economist

Samsung had beaten Apple to the market with the Note 7 by several weeks.

The Guardian - Tech

Sony Music had to bring the release of the single forward by several weeks to meet demand.

The Guardian - Music

Lift off had been delayed by several weeks from the original scheduled date because of a series of technical problems.

Independent

Norbert Röttgen, the environment minister, announced on Wednesday that the decision would be delayed by several weeks.

The New York Times

Hence the limits of last year's bilateral agreement with Pakistan to co-operate against crime and security threats were exposed by several weeks of recent border tensions.

The Guardian

The article comes as health workers in Haiti wrestle with a spike in the number of cholera cases brought on by several weeks of rainfall.

The Guardian

He had said he would rejoin the contest only if it were postponed by several weeks, with guarantees for a free vote.

The New York Times

In 2001 the Baftas ceremony was pushed forward by several weeks, ahead of the Academy Awards, to serve just that purpose.

The Guardian - Film

These two events – snowdrops in flower and the arrival of the first curlews – rarely coincide, but this year spring is certainly delayed by several weeks.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a delay or extension, use "by several weeks" to provide a clear, albeit approximate, timeframe. This helps set expectations without requiring exact dates.

Common error

While "by several weeks" provides a general timeframe, avoid using it when a more precise duration is known. If you know it's closer to a month, stating "by about a month" is more informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by several weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs or clauses. It specifies the extent of a change, delay, or duration in terms of time. As shown in Ludwig, it indicates the amount by which something has been delayed or extended.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "by several weeks" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a duration or delay. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and shows its prevalence across various sources, including news, science, and encyclopedias. The phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, providing an approximate timeframe and its usage doesn't signal inherent formality. While versatile, it's essential to use it appropriately, avoiding vagueness when more precise information is available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a number of weeks

Uses "number" instead of "several", slightly altering the emphasis.

over a few weeks

Employs "few" to suggest a slightly shorter duration within the 'several' range.

spanning several weeks

Replaces "by" with "spanning", focusing on the duration's extent.

across a period of weeks

Uses a more formal and descriptive phrasing to indicate the same duration.

during a couple of weeks

Substitutes "several" with "couple", implying a slightly shorter, less definite duration.

in the span of weeks

Emphasizes the duration as a 'span' of time rather than a direct measurement.

for some weeks

Uses "some" instead of "several", indicating an indefinite duration of multiple weeks.

extending a few weeks

Focuses on the action of extending over a duration of a few weeks.

lasting multiple weeks

Highlights the duration as 'lasting' for a certain number of weeks.

a few weeks in length

Describes the duration in terms of its 'length', changing the grammatical structure.

FAQs

How can I use "by several weeks" in a sentence?

Use "by several weeks" to indicate a delay, postponement, or extension of time. For example, "The project was delayed "by several weeks" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What can I say instead of "by several weeks"?

You can use alternatives like "for a number of weeks", "over a few weeks", or "spanning several weeks depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "by a few weeks" or "by several weeks"?

"By a few weeks" suggests a shorter duration than ""by several weeks"". Use "a few" for shorter delays (e.g., 2-3 weeks) and "several" for longer delays (e.g., 3-6 weeks).

Can "by several weeks" be used for both past and future events?

Yes, ""by several weeks"" can be used to describe both past delays (e.g., "The launch was delayed by several weeks") and future postponements (e.g., "The meeting will be postponed by several weeks").