first half of the week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first half of the week" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to the first few days of the current week or any other week. For example, you could say, "I'm planning to get all my work done in the first half of the week so I can relax over the weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The first half of the week also exposed the clay feet of the Conservatives.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Nick Clegg won the first half of the week, Labour lost the second half".

The Guardian - Opinion

His first batch covers the first half of the week (through Sunday) and features actors, insiders and a few models.

The New York Times

The Federal Reserve, meanwhile, launched a programme to revive securitisation markets by providing cheap financing for up to $1 trillion of non-bank lending, primarily to consumers.Stockmarkets took a further battering in the first half of the week.

The Economist

The balmy weather predicted is in stark contrast to the first half of the week, when much of the country will be blighted by rain, wind and below-average temperatures.

The Guardian

She had spent the first half of the week in Berlin, editing on the Steenbeck late into the night, and twice sending an assistant to Amsterdam in the morning with the section of film she had just completed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Just the first half of this week offers an expansive overview.

The New York Times - Arts

The first half of this week I was back to coaching, with England, and it was great to be involved again.

The Guardian - Sport

PARIS — A semblance of order returned to the Giro d'Italia on Sunday as an Italian rider won for the fourth successive day after a shutout in the first half of the three-week race and as the favorites began sorting themselves out and moving back up the standings.

The New York Times - Sports

The early improvement is probably attributable to the fact that the majority of treatments were given in the first half of the 10-week treatment period [ 11].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

In the first half of the trial, from week 4 to week 24, 277 (26 %) women reported intravaginal cleansing less than 1 h after sex.

AIDS and Behavior

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling tasks, use the phrase "first half of the week" to denote a specific timeframe for completion, such as "Please submit your reports by the first half of the week."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "first half of the week" always means Monday and Tuesday only; it can sometimes extend to Wednesday depending on the context and specific arrangements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first half of the week" functions as a temporal marker, specifying a period within the seven-day week. It's commonly used to indicate a timeframe for activities, deadlines, or events, as demonstrated in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first half of the week" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the initial days of the week, typically Monday through Wednesday. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, media, science, and general conversation. While it generally implies Monday and Tuesday, the specific timeframe can extend to Wednesday depending on the situation. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear to avoid misinterpretations and consider alternative phrases like "early part of the week" or "beginning of the week" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early part of the week

Replaces "first half" with "early part", maintaining the meaning of the initial days of the week.

beginning of the week

Substitutes "first half" with "beginning", focusing on the commencement of the week.

start of the week

Uses "start" instead of "first half", emphasizing the initial period.

initial days of the week

Rephrases to specify "initial days" providing a more descriptive alternative.

Monday and Tuesday

Specifies the days typically considered in the first half of the week.

first few days of the week

Adds "few" to specify a limited number of days at the beginning of the week.

earlier this week

Refers to a time in the recent past within the current week.

before Wednesday

Defines the timeframe as the period leading up to Wednesday.

the week's outset

Uses a more formal term "outset" to refer to the beginning of the week.

the week's commencement

Employs a more formal synonym "commencement" for the start of the week.

FAQs

How can I use "first half of the week" in a sentence?

You can use "first half of the week" to refer to the beginning of the week in sentences like, "I plan to finish the project in the "first half of the week"".

What is another way to say "first half of the week"?

Alternatives to "first half of the week" include "early part of the week", "beginning of the week", or "start of the week".

Does "first half of the week" always mean Monday and Tuesday?

While "first half of the week" often implies Monday and Tuesday, it can sometimes include Wednesday depending on the context. Consider clarifying if precision is needed.

What is the difference between "first half of the week" and "second half of the week"?

"First half of the week" refers to the initial days, usually Monday to Wednesday, while "second half of the week" refers to the later days, typically Wednesday or Thursday to Friday. Each marks a distinct period in the seven-day cycle.