in the preceding week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the preceding week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the week immediately before the current week or a specified time frame. Example: "In the preceding week, we saw a significant increase in sales compared to the previous month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Of that number, 565 were referred in the preceding week alone.

The Guardian

In the preceding week, the group sold off their possessions at low prices.

The Economist

We had sold one job in the preceding week, bringing our monthly sales to $19,366.

The New York Times

In the preceding week, he appeared to be so dead in the water that his solid performance looked stunning.

The Guardian

But he did not take physical contact, as he had in two practices in the preceding week.

The New York Times - Sports

The team at the venue worked hard to set up outreach workshops in the preceding week with all manner of local groups.

The Guardian

Last week, the city registered 30,000 new vehicles, the most ever, and 50 percent more than in the preceding week.

The New York Times

That is why the people I met at Birmingham, just like those I had talked to in the preceding week, were overwhelmingly pleased with the coalition government's policy agreement.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the preceding week, the Philharmonic clarinettist Stanley Drucker had made his final solo appearances at Avery Fisher Hall, playing Copland's Clarinet Concerto, and there the sense of occasion was greater; Drucker's tangy, sprung-rhythm style elicited a vital response from his colleagues.

The New Yorker

Most of the news people consumed in the preceding week was not paid for – except for newspapers and pay TV – and 83% of those who had not paid for digital news said they were were "unlikely" to pay for news in the future and 60% were "very unlikely".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Venezuela's 81-year-old president was trying to brush aside speculation about the state of his health--in the preceding week he had been reported in hospital outside the country, in a coma, even dead.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the preceding week" when you need a formal or precise way to refer to the week before the one you are currently discussing. It's particularly useful in academic or scientific writing where clarity is paramount.

Common error

Avoid using "in the preceding week" when "last week" suffices, as the former can sound overly formal in casual contexts. Ensure the context warrants the formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the preceding week" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time frame in which an action or event occurred. As shown in Ludwig, it provides temporal context, indicating that something happened during the week immediately before the one being discussed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in the preceding week" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase to denote the week immediately prior to a given timeframe. Ludwig AI confirms the accuracy and usability of this expression. While perfectly acceptable in a wide range of contexts, it finds primary usage in formal settings, notably within scientific and news media publications. Alternatives such as "in the previous week" or "last week" may offer more casual alternatives. When clarity and formality are key, "in the preceding week" is the recommended choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the previous week

Uses "previous" instead of "preceding", maintaining the same meaning.

during the week before

Rephrases the idea using "during" and "before" to indicate the time frame.

the week prior

Employs "prior" as a synonym for "preceding", offering a more concise alternative.

last week

Provides the shortest and most common way to express the same timeframe.

the week immediately before

Adds emphasis to the immediacy of the week being referenced.

in the week leading up to

Focuses on the week as a build-up to a specific event or point in time.

during the course of the prior week

More formal and elaborate way of saying "in the previous week".

in the seven days before

Specifies the time frame as seven days, adding precision.

a week ago

Expresses the same timeframe from the perspective of looking back from the current time.

in that week before

Uses "that" to refer to a specific week already mentioned or understood in the context.

FAQs

How can I use "in the preceding week" in a sentence?

You can use "in the preceding week" to specify a timeframe. For example, "In the preceding week, the company's stock price increased significantly."

What's the difference between "in the preceding week" and "last week"?

"In the preceding week" is more formal and precise, suitable for academic or technical writing. "Last week" is more common and informal, appropriate for everyday conversation and less formal writing.

Are there any synonyms for "in the preceding week"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "in the previous week", "the week before", or simply "last week" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "in the preceding week" grammatically correct?

Yes, "in the preceding week" is grammatically correct and commonly used in formal writing to refer to the week immediately before a specified time.