four weeks running

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "four weeks running" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been happening continuously for a duration of four weeks. Example: "The team has won the championship for four weeks running, showcasing their consistent performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Wiz Khalifa has had the No 1 song in America for four weeks running, See You Again.

The Guardian - Music

Because the CBS network hierarchy had what it perceived to be more important matters to contemplate, "60 Minutes" sometimes didn't go on the air at all four weeks running.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For three weeks running, the company overdrew its bank account.

The New York Times

Sometimes our barracks could not wash for two or three weeks running.

The New York Times

He spent two weeks running at altitude in New Mexico, often covering between eighteen and twenty-six miles a day.

The New Yorker

After pooling our resources, we hit the ground with £4,000 - about two weeks' running costs.

The Guardian

The manager Kenny Jackett has struggled to name an unchanged XI two weeks running.

The Guardian - Sport

US crude prices have fallen for eight weeks running, the most protracted decline since 1986.

The Guardian - Business

It would go on to become one of KCRW's top five requests for eight weeks running, a station record.

The New York Times - Magazine

The River City players had practiced on weekends for seven or eight weeks, running plays, stretching, doing some cardiovascular training.

The New York Times - Sports

After fielding the same starting line-up for three weeks running, Exeter have lost a player to injury.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "four weeks running" when you want to emphasize the consistent and uninterrupted nature of an event or situation over a four-week period. It clearly conveys continuity.

Common error

Avoid using "four weeks running" to describe events that occurred sporadically within a four-week period. This phrase indicates continuous or consecutive occurrence, not intermittent activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "four weeks running" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It specifies the duration and continuity of an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

25%

Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "four weeks running" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something has occurred continuously for four weeks. Ludwig AI analysis shows it's most commonly found in news, sports, and business contexts. While generally neutral, more formal situations may warrant alternatives such as "four consecutive weeks". Remember to use "four weeks running" to describe uninterrupted events within that period, avoiding its use for sporadic occurrences. Be smart, and avoid using "four weeks running" when that's not the case!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

four consecutive weeks

Replaces "running" with "consecutive", emphasizing the sequential nature of the weeks.

four weeks in a row

Uses the idiom "in a row" to convey the continuous sequence.

for four straight weeks

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the four-week period.

during the past four weeks

Focuses on the time frame leading up to the present.

over the last four weeks

Similar to "during the past four weeks", highlighting the recent period.

throughout the four-week period

Highlights the entire duration of the four weeks.

for a continuous four weeks

Explicitly states the continuity of the period.

in four successive weeks

Uses "successive" to indicate the following order of weeks.

spanning four weeks

Highlights the duration that the activity encompasses.

for the fourth week in succession

More formal way of emphasizing that a week happened after the other one, but still with the same meaning.

FAQs

What does "four weeks running" mean?

The phrase "four weeks running" means that something has happened continuously or consecutively for a period of four weeks.

How can I use "four weeks running" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team has won every game for "four weeks running"", indicating their winning streak has lasted four consecutive weeks.

What are some alternatives to "four weeks running"?

You can use alternatives such as "four consecutive weeks", "four weeks in a row", or "for four straight weeks" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "four weeks running" formal or informal?

The phrase "four weeks running" is suitable for both neutral and informal contexts. For more formal situations, consider using "four consecutive weeks".