in prior weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'in prior weeks' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to specific weeks that happened before the current one. For example, "We have seen an increase in sales in prior weeks, which indicates that our marketing efforts are paying off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Last April, people briefed on the inquiry said virtually every Hollywood company with significant dealings in China had been notified in prior weeks of the inquiry into possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which forbids American companies from making illegal payments to government officials or others to ease the way for operations abroad.

The New York Times

Some attributed the surprise jump to inclement weather in prior weeks that resulted in some backlog, but that was cold comfort for investors.

Forbes

After buying shares of Bennett Environmental in prior weeks, the M100 sold shares at around $11. The Oakville, Canada-based company, which remediates contaminated soil, announced last week that it had been awarded a contract that is potentially worth C$20 million.

Forbes

In prior weeks, the insurgency had won hands-down the public opinion and propaganda war against the administration.

Huffington Post

The rebels shot down several military planes in prior weeks, and a social network page linked to a main separatist leader bragged shortly after the fall of MH17 that a large plane had been downed.

Vice

In contrast to negative binomial models, increasing RSV activity during the week of IMD case occurrence was associated with increased risk of IMD only after adjusting for RSV activity in prior weeks (unadjusted, per 100 case increase, OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 0.75, 4.93; adjusted for previous 3 weeks of RSV activity, OR = 4.31, 95% CI: 1.14, 16.32) (Figure 3(b)).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

All of the candidate predictors except BMI, CRP, percentage oral intake in prior week, and percentage weight loss in past three months were significantly associated with 28-day mortality (all P< 0.001).

Critical Care

Meyer (1990) finds evidence of large spikes in the hazard in the prior weeks before exhaustion, a result extensively documented in the literature12.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Her article struck me as very poignant, in light of all the GMO research I had been doing in the prior weeks.

The New Yorker

That would mean, for instance, that after the Challenger explosion people would have had better memory for all space-related news in the prior weeks.

The New Yorker

The number of people seeking US unemployment benefits slipped below 300,000 last week, after having spiked above that level in the prior week for the first time in nearly three months.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in prior weeks", be specific if necessary. If the number of weeks is important, consider specifying, for example, 'in the prior three weeks'.

Common error

Avoid using "prior" and "previous" interchangeably without considering context. While similar, 'prior' often implies a more direct sequence or causal relationship, while 'previous' is a more general term for something that came before.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in prior weeks" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the time frame in which an action occurred or a condition existed. It provides temporal context, specifying that something happened during the weeks preceding the current one. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in prior weeks" is a grammatically sound and useful way to refer to a period in the recent past. According to Ludwig, it's generally considered correct and suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific writing. Although not exceedingly common, its usage is clear and well-understood. When using this phrase, ensure that the timeframe is evident and consider whether alternatives like "in preceding weeks" or "during the previous weeks" might be more appropriate depending on the level of formality or desired emphasis. By following the guidelines, you can use this phrase effectively and appropriately in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in preceding weeks

Replaces 'prior' with 'preceding', indicating a slightly more formal tone.

in the weeks before

Changes the structure to specify a timeframe leading up to a certain point.

during the previous weeks

Uses 'previous' instead of 'prior', offering a common alternative.

in the weeks leading up to

Emphasizes the build-up to a specific event or time.

in earlier weeks

Simpler phrasing, suitable for less formal contexts.

in the prior period

Replaces 'weeks' with the more general 'period', widening the scope.

in the past few weeks

Focuses on a recent timeframe, adding a sense of immediacy.

over the last several weeks

Highlights a duration, rather than a specific timeframe.

in recent weeks

Generalizes the timeframe, making it less precise.

previously

A single word substitution that refers to a prior time, though lacking specificity.

FAQs

How can I use "in prior weeks" in a sentence?

You can use "in prior weeks" to refer to events or conditions that happened in the weeks leading up to a specific point. For example, "We saw a decline in sales "in prior weeks" due to the promotional campaign ending."

What phrases are similar to "in prior weeks"?

Similar phrases include "in preceding weeks", "during the previous weeks", or "in the weeks before" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "in prior weeks" and "in previous weeks"?

While both phrases are similar, "prior" can suggest a closer or more direct connection to the current situation. "Previous" is a more general term. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it better to use "in recent weeks" instead of "in prior weeks"?

"In recent weeks" is better when you want to refer to a less specific period, emphasizing that something occurred sometime in the recent past. "In prior weeks", however, refers to the weeks immediately before the week being discussed.