last few weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

"last few weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time leading up to the present moment. For example: "I've been busy the last few weeks with work and preparing for the holidays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We've responded well these last few weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

The last few weeks have gone well".

The Guardian - Sport

The last few weeks, activity heats up.

The New York Times

Good luck with the last few weeks.

The Guardian - Travel

The last few weeks have been spent preparing for harvest.

Cornell University

"The last few weeks have been excruciating," confessed Guerrero.

The New York Times - Magazine

I've never seen that more than the last few weeks".

The New York Times

The last few weeks have been rocky for the company.

The New York Times

All this had suddenly started in the last few weeks.

The New York Times

And there's been plenty the last few weeks.

The New York Times

I've spent the last few weeks focusing on my future.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a trend or situation, use "the last few weeks" to provide a specific timeframe for recent developments, helping your audience understand the immediacy of the information.

Common error

Avoid using "the last few weeks" when referring to events that span much longer periods. Ensure the timeframe aligns with the actual duration of the activity or situation you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last few weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying the duration over which an action, event, or state occurs. It modifies verbs or clauses to indicate when something happened, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "last few weeks" is a common and grammatically correct way to reference a recent period of time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous examples from authoritative sources. As an adverbial phrase of time, it effectively sets a timeframe for recent events or trends, and while primarily found in News & Media, the phrase is appropriate for neutral, professional, and even informal contexts. For similar expressions, consider "recent weeks" or "past few weeks" to add variety to your writing. Remember to use the phrase accurately and avoid overlapping timeframes for optimal clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recent weeks

Replaces "last few" with "recent", emphasizing the recency of the weeks in question with very minimal semantic change.

past few weeks

Substitutes "last" with "past", indicating a period leading up to the present but perhaps with a slightly broader connotation, resulting in minimal semantic change.

previous weeks

Uses "previous" instead of "last few", focusing on weeks that came before the current one, slightly changing the nuance.

the weeks leading up to now

Rephrases to describe the timeframe more explicitly, adding detail but keeping the meaning similar.

in recent times

Uses a more general term, indicating a short period of time without specifying weeks, which slightly broadens the meaning.

the immediate past

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes that the past is very close to the present, resulting in a slight shift in formality.

lately

A shorter, more informal alternative indicating a period of time close to the present, lacking the specificity of "weeks".

in recent memory

Emphasizes that the timeframe is within a person's recollection, slightly altering the focus.

the last month

Expands the timeframe to a month, making it a broader, less precise alternative.

not long ago

A very general term indicating a time in the past that wasn't distant, lacking any specific timeframe.

FAQs

How can I use "last few weeks" in a sentence?

You can use "last few weeks" to describe events or trends that have occurred recently. For example, "The company's stock price has surged in the "last few weeks"".

What are some alternatives to saying "last few weeks"?

Alternatives include "recent weeks", "past few weeks", or "previous weeks", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "last few weeks" and "past few weeks"?

While similar, "last few weeks" typically refers to the weeks immediately preceding the present, while "past few weeks" might encompass a slightly broader timeframe. The difference is subtle but context-dependent.

Can I use "the last couple weeks" instead of "last few weeks"?

Yes, "the last couple weeks" is a more informal alternative that means approximately the same thing as "last few weeks". However, use "last few weeks" for formal content.