in successive weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

'in successive weeks' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase that indicates a period of time that takes place over a series of weeks, with each week following the previous one in a consecutive manner. For example, you could say, "I completed the assignments in successive weeks, making sure to finish one before moving on to the next."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Then the Giants were trounced in successive weeks by Washington and Tennessee.

The New York Times - Sports

The two top-10 results in successive weeks matched his total for this season.

The New York Times - Sports

And he has delivered road wins against the Indianapolis Colts and the Patriots in successive weeks.

Independent

Argentina, meanwhile, will be glad of a breather after losing to Wales, Scotland and England in successive weeks.

The Guardian - Sport

"Northampton, Clermont and Munster in successive weeks involves playing three of the better teams in Europe right now.

The Guardian - Sport

In successive weeks Miliband has challenged Cameron over the cost of living, including Labour's proposed energy price freeze.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

In the successive weeks, ρw image intensity decreased at the whole leaf level and in the different leaf tissues (parenchyma and main leaf vein) and leaf areas.

BMC Plant Biology

In fact you could argue that the loss of two "normal" campaign days to TV debates between the leaders – in three successive weeks – is a centralising development, one which enhances the presidential character of elections at the expense of the wider party and contest in 650 seats.

The Guardian

"We've seen the price come up in two successive weeks now.

BBC

"Mean" debuted and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Swift the first act to claim the chart's top debut (Hot Shot Debut) in three successive weeks.

Wikipedia

Data at each health center were collected over one week, with all centers visited in eight successive weeks.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in successive weeks", ensure the context clearly establishes a sequence of events or actions happening each week without interruption. This helps maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "in successive weeks" when the events are not truly consecutive or have gaps between them. If there are breaks, phrases like "in alternate weeks" or "over several weeks" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in successive weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action or event occurred. It indicates that something happened repeatedly each week, without interruption. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in successive weeks" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate a sequence of events occurring weekly without interruption. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples across various contexts, primarily in news, sports, and scientific reporting. While generally neutral in register, its use should be reserved for situations where the weekly sequence is indeed continuous, as pointed out in our writing guidance. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "in consecutive weeks" or "week after week", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in consecutive weeks

This alternative emphasizes the unbroken sequence of weeks, very similar to the original phrase.

week after week

This alternative is less formal and highlights the repetitive nature of the weekly occurrence.

for several weeks running

This alternative suggests a continuous period of weeks, emphasizing the duration.

over a series of weeks

This alternative highlights the sequential nature of the occurrences over a specific time frame.

during subsequent weeks

This alternative emphasizes the following weeks in a sequence, maintaining formality.

in following weeks

This alternative is a slightly more concise way of saying "in subsequent weeks".

on consecutive weeks

This alternative uses 'on' instead of 'in', which is a subtle variation that might fit better in certain contexts.

week by week

This alternative emphasizes the incremental and steady progression from one week to the next.

each week thereafter

This alternative specifies that the events occurred every week after a certain point.

in quick succession

This alternative emphasizes the speed and nearness of the occurrences rather than the specific weekly interval.

FAQs

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

You can use "in successive weeks" to describe events that happen each week without a break. For example, "The team won games "in successive weeks", leading to their championship victory."

What's a more formal alternative to "in successive weeks"?

A more formal alternative could be "in subsequent weeks" or "during the following weeks", which maintain a professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

Is there a difference between "in successive weeks" and "over several weeks"?

"In successive weeks" implies a continuous sequence without gaps, whereas "over several weeks" simply indicates a period of weeks, possibly with breaks in between. If the events occurred every week without fail, use "in successive weeks"; otherwise, "over several weeks" might be more fitting.

Can I use "in successive weeks" to describe events happening on the same day each week?

Yes, you can. For instance, "The meetings were held on Mondays "in successive weeks" to discuss project progress."