in the previous week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the previous week" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a specific week prior to the one in which you are speaking. For example, "I finished my report in the previous week, but I need to make some final edits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That was up from 9.18 million in the previous week.

The New York Times

The drop in the previous week was 5.8percentt.

The New York Times

In the previous week, there were outflows of $278 million.

The New York Times

They had risen $755 million in the previous week.

The New York Times

In the previous week, it was 6.45percentthethe lowest in 30 years of record-keeping.

The New York Times

We were approaching Moscow, a sharp contrast to everything we'd seen in the previous week.

The Guardian - Travel

There were 94,804 emergency admissions, up from 90,813 in the previous week.

The Guardian

In the previous week, the feed featured an average of 10 posts a day.

The Washington Post

The dollar was weakened in Friday's trading, but had been little changed in the previous week.

The New York Times

The average had approached a five-year low in the previous week.

The New York Times

In 1998 fully 71% of 16- to 24-year-olds admitted drinking in the previous week.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data points across weeks, use "in the previous week" to clearly establish the timeframe being referenced. For instance, "Sales increased by 10% compared to sales "in the previous week".

Common error

When discussing multiple past weeks, avoid using "in the previous week" without clear context. This can create confusion. Be specific by saying "two weeks prior" or "the week of July 1st" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the previous week" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time frame of an action or state. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It indicates when something occurred relative to the current week.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the previous week" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the week preceding the current one. As Ludwig confirms, it is suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news, science, and business settings. When writing, ensure clarity by avoiding ambiguity with multiple time references and consider using more concise alternatives like "last week" when appropriate. Remember that while the phrase is generally neutral, the specific context determines the overall formality of your writing. Examples provided by Ludwig showcase diverse applications, reinforcing its versatility and importance in establishing temporal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the week before

This alternative is more concise and directly indicates the week preceding the current one.

last week

This is a common and straightforward substitute, suitable for most contexts.

during the prior week

This phrase is slightly more formal but retains the same temporal meaning.

in the week prior

This alternative changes the word order slightly while maintaining the meaning.

the week preceding

This option uses a more formal and academic vocabulary.

in the immediately preceding week

This phrase adds emphasis on the temporal proximity.

a week earlier

This alternative shifts the perspective to a point one week before.

seven days prior

This is a more precise way of specifying the time frame.

the week before that

This option implies a comparison to another week already under discussion.

in the course of the week before

This option is verbose and indicates that something happened during that time.

FAQs

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

Use "in the previous week" to refer to something that happened during the week before the current one. For example, "The company's stock price declined "in the previous week" due to unfavorable news."

What's a simpler alternative to "in the previous week"?

You can often replace "in the previous week" with "last week", which is more concise and commonly used.

Is it better to say "in the previous week" or "the previous week"?

Both "in the previous week" and "the previous week" are grammatically correct, but "in the previous week" is generally preferred when specifying a timeframe or condition. "The previous week" may be used as a subject. For example, "The previous week was very productive".

What is the difference between "in the previous week" and "the prior week"?

While both phrases have similar meanings, "in the previous week" is more commonly used in general writing. "The prior week" might appear in more formal or technical contexts.