during the previous week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during the previous week" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the week that occurred before the current one, often in reports or discussions about past events. Example: "During the previous week, we saw a significant increase in sales compared to the week before."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The reference period was "during the previous week".

BMC Public Health

His death apparently happened some time during the previous week.

Independent

The meeting with the President nearly destroyed the good will that had been generated during the previous week.

The New Yorker

In our surveys, we also asked Americans to assess the quality of the campaign during the previous week.

The New York Times

The books listed here were received by Ian during the previous week, courtesy of various publishing houses.

The Guardian

Every time Rashid had surfaced in Milan during the previous week, his appearance had caused a stir.

The New Yorker

In general, anyone who reports working for pay — even just an hour — during the previous week is considered employed.

The New York Times

When asked by their teachers why they have not practised during the previous week, they can now blame their genes.

The Economist

Half of adults did not meet recommendations for fruit/vegetable consumption and 20% reported no physical activity during the previous week.

Evaluation and Program Planning

On your Week-End Review, record the self-schema that was activated during the previous week that was most incompatible with experiencing and expressing your Spiritual nature.

Yale University

Once weekly during ambulatory blocks, Primary Care residents and faculty meet together and discuss evidence-based "answers" to clinically relevant questions formulated during the previous week of practice.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during the previous week", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe you are referencing. This is especially important in reports or analyses covering multiple periods.

Common error

Avoid using "during the previous week" when the context does not clearly define what 'previous' refers to. Without a clear reference, the timeframe becomes ambiguous and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during the previous week" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating the time frame in which an action occurred or a condition existed. As Ludwig AI shows, this is a typical function of this phrase across several contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during the previous week" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the week preceding a specific point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across diverse fields, including science, news, and academia, with a slight tendency towards formal contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the reference point is clear to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives such as "last week" or "in the last week" exist, "during the previous week" provides a more precise and often preferred choice in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last week

A more direct and common way to reference the week immediately prior.

in the last week

Focuses on the recency of the event, using a simpler structure.

over the past week

Similar to 'in the last week', emphasizing the duration leading up to the present.

during the prior week

Uses 'prior' as a synonym for 'previous', maintaining similar formality.

in the preceding week

More formal alternative, using 'preceding' to indicate the week before.

during the week immediately before

Highlights the immediacy of the preceding week.

within the last seven days

Specifies the time period as a precise number of days.

the week before last

Indicates the week before the most recent one, adding a degree of separation.

in the seven days before

Emphasizes the period leading up to the present.

a week ago

Simplifies the timeframe to a single point in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "during the previous week" in a sentence?

You can use "during the previous week" to specify when something happened in the week leading up to a specific point in time. For example, "During the previous week, we observed a significant increase in website traffic."

What are some alternatives to saying "during the previous week"?

You can use alternatives like "in the last week", "over the past week", or "last week" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "during the previous week" or "last week"?

Both "during the previous week" and "last week" are correct. "Last week" is more common and direct, while "during the previous week" can be useful in contexts where you need to be more specific or formal.

What is the difference between "during the previous week" and "in the previous week"?

"During the previous week" emphasizes the time period as a duration, while "in the previous week" focuses on the week as a container of events. The difference is subtle, and they are often interchangeable.