for the previous week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for the previous week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period that occurred in the week before the current one. Example: "The sales figures for the previous week showed a significant increase compared to the week before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The outflow for the previous week was $3.236 billion.

The New York Times

For the previous week, a revised 405,000 workers filed for jobless benefits.

The New York Times

On Christmas morning he will be tired from only having a few hours sleep per night for the previous week.

The Guardian

Analysts had expected jobless claims would total 390,000, unchanged from the initial estimate for the previous week.

The New York Times

It was a task to which, for the previous week, half a dozen of us had devoted all our energies.

The Guardian

For the previous week, the way the Yankees have been headed is down, mostly because of their offensive troubles.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

For just the previous week, the SNP had given us another classic example of what it does best: banning things.

The Guardian - Opinion

He knew of Ukip, having seen the party leader on Have I Got News for You? the previous week.

The Guardian

One spoke about a group of refugees from Homs who had headed south for Jordan the previous week.

The New Yorker

The voice of one man was broadcast after his arrest on the 6pm BBC1 news, in an interview recorded for background the previous week.

The Guardian - Opinion

I arrived at Hunter and Sandy's around midnight, delivered the groceries as thanks for dinner the previous week, and ended up spending the weekend with them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using "during the preceding week" as a slightly more sophisticated alternative.

Common error

Avoid using "for the previous week" without establishing a clear reference point in time. Ensure the reader knows which week is being referred to as 'previous'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the previous week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying the duration to which a statement applies. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

27%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for the previous week" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a specific seven-day period leading up to a point of reference. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility across various contexts, especially in news, science, and academia. While generally neutral, it's advisable to ensure temporal clarity and to use synonyms like "the week before" or "last week" to enhance readability. Remember to clearly set a time context to avoid confusion when using the term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the week prior

Replaces 'previous' with 'prior', maintaining the same meaning but using a slightly more formal tone.

during the preceding week

Substitutes 'previous' with 'preceding', offering a more formal and literary alternative.

the week before

Simplifies the phrasing to a more common and easily understandable expression.

last week

Shortens the phrase for a more concise and informal way to refer to the same period.

in the prior seven days

Specifies the timeframe using a numerical value, providing a more precise and less ambiguous reference.

over the last week

Emphasizes the duration and experience throughout the week in question.

for the week gone by

Offers a more idiomatic way to refer to the week that has passed.

during the week immediately before

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the week in question, making the timeframe very clear.

in the seven days leading up to that

Focuses on the days leading to a specific point, offering a perspective on the time nearing the present.

a week ago

Simplifies to a common phrase indicating an event occurring one week in the past.

FAQs

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

You can use "for the previous week" to refer to a period of seven days leading up to a specific point in time. For example, "Sales increased significantly "for the previous week" after the marketing campaign launched".

What can I say instead of "for the previous week"?

Alternatives include "the week before", "last week", or "in the prior week". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "for the previous week" or "in the previous week"?

"For the previous week" is generally used to describe something that occurred or was measured during that time, while "in the previous week" specifies when something happened. Both are grammatically correct, but "for" is more common when discussing durations or measurements.

What’s the difference between "for the previous week" and "for the past week"?

"For the previous week" refers to a specific week that preceded a certain point in time. "For the past week" refers to the seven days immediately before the present moment. Choose based on whether you need to reference a particular, earlier week or simply the most recent one.