following week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "following week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the week that comes after the current week or a specified week. Example: "We will have the meeting scheduled for the following week to discuss the project updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We return the following week.

The New Yorker

The following week, Rita struck.

The New Yorker

The following week, though?

The Washington Post

Our visits took place the following week.

The New York Times

The contemporary auctions were the following week.

The New Yorker

The following week, they won the tournament.

The New Yorker

The following week it happened again.

The Economist

Agents interviewed Mr. Petraeus the following week.

The New York Times

We were friends again the following week.

Independent

The following week, look west.

The Washington Post

He left the following week.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "following week" when you are writing a narrative in the past tense to maintain a consistent internal timeline. It is often preceded by the definite article "the".

Common error

Avoid using "following week" when you strictly mean the week after 'now' in a direct email; in those cases, "next week" is usually more natural. Use "following week" specifically to reference a week relative to another date mentioned in your text.

Linguistic Context

"following week" serves as a temporal noun phrase used to denote a specific block of seven days following a reference point. According to Ludwig, it functions as a relative time marker.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "following week" is an essential tool for any writer looking to provide clear, chronological context. Analysis from Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and exceptionally common in professional journalism and academic writing. Unlike the term "next week", which is tethered to the 'now' of the speaker, "following week" allows for flexible time-keeping within any narrative frame. Whether reporting on a court case in The New York Times or describing an experiment in a university study, this phrase ensures the reader understands the exact sequence of events without ambiguity. It almost always requires the definite article "the" to function correctly as a pointer to a specific time slot.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

week following

Inverted structure often used in data reporting or precise schedules.

next week

Standard conversational alternative, often relative to the current moment.

subsequent week

More formal and technical, emphasizing a sequence of events.

week after

A more informal prepositional structure used in narrative flow.

upcoming week

Suggests anticipation for a week that is about to arrive.

succeeding week

Formal synonym focusing on the order of succession.

ensuing week

Literary or formal choice suggesting the week followed as a result or in order.

following seven days

A more literal and specific measurement of time.

week to come

Focuses on the future aspect relative to the reference point.

consecutive week

Implies a series of weeks happening one after another.

FAQs

How do I use "following week" in a sentence?

You can use it to sequence events, such as: "The team launched the prototype on Monday, and the results were analyzed the "following week"."

What is the difference between "following week" and "next week"?

While "next week" is usually relative to the present moment, "following week" is relative to a specific event or date previously mentioned in the text.

Can I use "subsequent week" instead?

Yes, "subsequent week" is a perfectly valid and slightly more formal alternative to "following week".

Is it "the following week" or just "following week"?

In most contexts, especially at the start of a sentence or as a direct object, you should use "the following week" to be grammatically precise.