caught last week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "caught last week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an event or action that occurred during the previous week, often in the context of something being captured or discovered. Example: "I caught a glimpse of the rare bird that was spotted in our area last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Mr. Melloul-Khayari and Mr. Johry were caught last week.

The New York Times

A total of 955 WBC moths were caught in the 57 traps reporting this week, up from 467 WBC moths in 64 traps caught last week.

Cornell University

So far, 73 WBC moths were caught in the 50 traps reporting this week ��� less than half the number caught last week.

Cornell University

"Everything was exploding," said Nasr, Muammar Gaddafi's personal driver, recalling the moments before the deposed dictator was caught last week.

The Guardian

He was caught last week through the use of a much-debated DNA technique that involves tracking down relatives of convicted criminals.

The New York Times

He had promised to cook a 4lb trout he caught last week, as a special treat for his son's 19th birthday.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Myanmar today feels caught between centuries.

The New York Times

Alberto Castillo and Bobby Estalella caught today.

The New York Times - Sports

In all, 2,645 cheaters were caught last year.

The New York Times

"That one I caught today," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Then he confessed, "It was caught yesterday".

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing news reports or factual accounts, use "caught last week" to clearly indicate that an event or apprehension occurred in the immediate past. For greater precision in formal contexts, you might specify dates or days.

Common error

Avoid using "caught last week" when you need to specify a more exact date or a different timeframe (e.g., "caught two weeks ago"). Ensure the action genuinely happened within the seven days preceding the current day.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught last week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurred. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct. For example, "He was caught last week with 3.5kg of the contraband."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "caught last week" is a grammatically sound and common way to indicate that an event occurred in the seven days prior to the current moment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s suitable for various contexts, including news, academic, and general conversations. The phrase functions as an adverbial phrase of time and its register is generally neutral. While widely applicable, it's important to avoid using it when precision necessitates specific dates. Remember to consider related phrases like "apprehended the previous week" or "discovered in the past week" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

captured during the last week

Uses "captured" instead of "caught", implying a more active or forceful taking.

apprehended the previous week

Replaces "caught" with "apprehended" to emphasize capture, and "last week" with "the previous week", resulting in formal tone.

found within the last week

Focuses on the act of finding something rather than capturing or apprehending.

discovered in the past week

Substitutes "caught" with "discovered", focusing on the finding or revelation of something.

seized in the last seven days

Emphasizes the timeframe by specifying "last seven days" and using "seized" to suggest forceful acquisition.

uncovered last week

Highlights the uncovering or exposure of something.

detected in the week prior

Replaces "caught" with "detected", indicating the identification of something that was previously unnoticed.

intercepted during the prior week

Implies the stopping or preventing of something in the past.

nabbed the week before

Uses "nabbed" for a more informal tone and "the week before" as a less formal way to say "last week".

revealed in the week gone by

Suggests something became known or apparent in the past week.

FAQs

How can I use "caught last week" in a sentence?

You can use "caught last week" to indicate that someone or something was apprehended, discovered, or detected within the past seven days. Example: "The suspect was "apprehended last week" after a long investigation."

What are some alternatives to "caught last week"?

Alternatives include "apprehended the previous week", "discovered in the past week", or "captured during the last week", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "caught last week"?

It would be incorrect to use "caught last week" if the event in question happened more than seven days ago. In that case, specify "caught two weeks ago" or "caught earlier this month" for example.

What's the difference between "caught last week" and "caught recently"?

"Caught last week" specifies a precise timeframe (the past seven days), while "caught recently" is more vague and could refer to any time in the near past, not necessarily limited to the last week.