close to a week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to a week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a duration that is nearly a week long, often in contexts related to timeframes or deadlines. Example: "The project will take close to a week to complete, so please plan accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Soiles took the stand for close to a week.

The New Yorker

But Barson said that: "They haven't seen the sky for close to a week".

The Guardian

It wasn't until close to a week later that he heard they were about to be arraigned.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sam Dillon (NYT) MIDDLE EAST ISRAEL, LEBANON: FIGHTING FLARES AGAIN -- After a lull of close to a week, fighting resumed in south Lebanon.

The New York Times

Maxine Smith, a friend and neighbor in Boston, had not heard from Leon Gray for close to a week, and began to wonder, if not worry.

The New York Times - Sports

That leaves Wallace with close to a week, provided he participates in Friday's scrimmage, to get into shape for the regular-season opener Nov. 1, also against the Nets.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Indeed, the average visitor to the territory still stays less than two days, whereas in Las Vegas the norm is closer to a week.

The Economist

Copper has edged up slightly but is still close to a five week low, but gold continues to slip, putting precious metal miners under pressure.

The Guardian - Business

The concerns sent the euro close to a six week low against sterling, with the European currency down 0.5% at 87.71p.

The Guardian - Business

Shares are close to a 52-week intraday high of $100.49.

Forbes

That's close to a 52-week intraday low of $6.45 set on Aug. 10.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to a week" when you want to indicate an approximate duration, implying it could be slightly less or more than exactly seven days. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "close to a week" when precision is necessary. If the duration is exactly or needs to be perceived as exactly seven days, use "a week" instead. Overusing approximations can reduce the clarity of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to a week" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs or clauses by indicating the duration of an action or event. Ludwig provides multiple examples that showcase this function, demonstrating the phrase's capability in indicating time frames.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close to a week" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that something lasts for approximately, but not exactly, seven days. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While the phrase is suitable for neutral and even some formal contexts, more precise language may be required in situations needing exactness. Alternatives such as "almost a week" or "approximately one week" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight variations in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost a week

Uses "almost" for a direct synonym indicating nearness in time.

nearly a week

Replaces "close to" with "nearly", maintaining the same meaning of approximation.

around a week

Substitutes "close to" with "around", indicating an approximate duration.

about a week

Uses "about" to express the approximate duration of a week.

approximately one week

More formal substitution, uses "approximately" to indicate an estimated time.

in the vicinity of a week

A more verbose synonym indicating a time frame that's near to a week.

approaching one week

Focuses on the idea of time getting closer to the one-week mark.

in the neighborhood of a week

Uses the idiomatic "in the neighborhood of" to express approximation.

something like a week

Casual phrasing indicating an indefinite but approximate duration.

pretty much a week

Informal expression that means "almost" or "nearly" a week.

FAQs

How can I use "close to a week" in a sentence?

You can use "close to a week" to describe a period that is almost, but not quite, a full week. For example, "The project will take "close to a week" to complete".

What phrases are similar to "close to a week"?

Similar phrases include "almost a week", "nearly a week", or "about a week", all suggesting an approximate duration of seven days.

Is it appropriate to use "close to a week" in formal writing?

Yes, "close to a week" can be used in formal writing, but ensure it's appropriate for the context. More formal alternatives, like "approximately one week", may be preferable in certain situations.

What's the difference between "close to a week" and "a week"?

"Close to a week" indicates an approximate time frame, suggesting the period is not exactly seven days, whereas "a week" implies a precise duration of seven days. It expresses that the duration is similar to but not exactly "a week".