last number of weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last number of weeks" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to refer to a specific duration of time, but it is awkwardly phrased. Example: "In the last number of weeks, we have seen significant progress in our project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Healy has not played since Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Toulon last April, but has trained for the last number of weeks and should get an opportunity to prove his fitness.

BBC

"Every week has been the same for the last number of weeks," he explained.

The Guardian - Sport

In fact, over the last number of weeks we have heard from people saying that they are very happy and that we are making progress".

The Guardian

In a statement on the day the bridge closed, Mr Mackay said that the defects "are problems that have only occurred in the last number of weeks".

Independent

To the apparent disappointment of investors, Mr. Greenspan paid no lip service yesterday to the idea of being "patient" and said the economy appeared to have undergone a change in "the last number of weeks".

The New York Times

Surely the consistent clearing of desks at Anfield over the last number of weeks is paving the way for JW Henry to put in place the structures Fenway believe are required to start from scratch in rebuilding the club?

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The bidding will process take place online and last a number of weeks.

BBC

The shopping precinct demolition has begun and is expected to last a number of weeks.

BBC

So I think the credibility of the euro, you're seeing, you know, a very significant trade-off in the last large number of weeks.

Forbes

Following this he then went on a losing streak, lasting a number of weeks.

Wikipedia

Actual time on treatment was calculated as the difference between the last date of treatment administration and the date of treatment start, considering the last cycle as lasting the planned number of weeks.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "recent weeks", "past few weeks", or "last few weeks" for improved readability.

Common error

Using the phrase "last number of weeks" can sound unnatural. Instead, choose alternatives that are more common in standard English to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last number of weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying a timeframe. It indicates when something occurred, similar to how other time-related phrases like "yesterday" or "last year" function. Ludwig AI signals it is not a correct term in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

17%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "last number of weeks" appears in various sources, especially in News & Media, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Alternatives like "recent weeks" or "past few weeks" are preferred for clarity and grammatical accuracy. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not a correct term. When writing, aim for precise and commonly accepted phrases to convey your intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recent weeks

Replaces "number of" with "recent", offering a more concise and grammatically sound alternative.

past few weeks

Substitutes "last number of" with "past few", improving grammatical correctness and clarity.

previous few weeks

Similar to "past few weeks", but uses "previous" instead of "past".

last several weeks

Replaces "number of" with "several", providing a more specific duration.

the last weeks

Removes "number of", slightly changing the emphasis but maintaining a similar meaning.

over the past weeks

Adds "over the" for emphasis, indicating a period spanning several weeks.

in recent times

Uses a more general phrase to refer to a period in the recent past, slightly broader than the original.

during the last weeks

Adds "during the" for emphasis, specifying that something occurred within that timeframe.

in the preceding weeks

A more formal way of saying "in the previous weeks".

lately

Simplifies the phrase to a single word, referring to the recent past in a less specific manner.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "last number of weeks" to sound more natural?

Consider using alternatives like "recent weeks", "past few weeks", or "last several weeks" for a more natural and grammatically sound expression.

Is "last number of weeks" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "last number of weeks" isn't considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases such as "last few weeks" or "previous weeks".

What's the difference between "last number of weeks" and "last few weeks"?

"Last number of weeks" is an awkward phrasing, whereas "last few weeks" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the recent past. The latter is much preferred in writing.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "last number of weeks"?

You might find "last number of weeks" in informal contexts or in writing where precision isn't prioritized. However, for formal writing, alternatives like "recent weeks" or "past several weeks" are recommended.