last week

USAGE SUMMARY

"last week" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the week prior to the current one. For example: "I spoke to my supervisor last week about the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Referred to in court as D, she entered a not guilty plea to a charge of intimidation last week while wearing a niqab after the judge backed down from a previous decision that she would have to show her face to be properly identified.

The Guardian

"Scoring is not up, but injuries are up," Tallon said of the current rule last week.

The New York Times

Gray only last week said Rudd was able to "get himself into the media … what he can't do is govern and what he can't do is lead the Labor party".

The Guardian

Fewer than 100 cases of Ebola have been reported in west Africa in the last week, according to the World Health Organisation, which says the outbreak has now effectively moved into the endgame.

The Guardian

Gina McCarthy, who heads the EPA, said in a press call last week that her agency had found that 80% of small business owners supported the rule, as did a majority of those individuals and organizations who submitted public comments in the run-up to the rule's introduction.

The Guardian

In last week's release Populaire, the suave Romain Duris character is asked to stop smoking in the office by the new secretary, played by Déborah François.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The last one was in 1989.

The Economist

His record - two cups within six months of his appointment, a domestic treble in his first full season, a second title in 2005 and reaching the last 16 of the Champions League - set the context for a rueful but masterfully understated parting comment: "I'm sure those people who look at the facts will say that during a period of downsizing, I was reasonably successful".

The Guardian - Sport

The order book was down slightly at £3.6bn from the last update in June but well ahead of the £3.3bn reported this time last year.

The Guardian - Business

Last year, during David Cameron's trip to Beijing, the same paper announced that Britain was "just an old European country apt [that is, suitable] for travel and study".

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's only what happened a couple of weeks ago or next week that matters.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "last week" to clearly indicate the week preceding the current one, ensuring your audience understands the timeframe without ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "last week" when referring to a week in the distant past. For events further back, specify the month or date for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in indicating a specific timeframe relative to the present.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "last week" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that specifies a timeframe preceding the current week. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, writers should be mindful of potential ambiguity when referring to the distant past. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "the previous week" or "a week ago" to convey similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the previous week

Replaces "last" with "previous", offering a more formal tone.

a week ago

Expresses the same time frame using "ago" instead of "last".

during the prior week

Similar to 'the previous week' but with a slightly more formal tone.

the week before this one

Offers a more descriptive and less direct way to refer to the prior week.

the week that just passed

Informal phrasing that emphasizes the recentness of the week.

in the past week

Shifts the focus to the period rather than a specific week.

within the last seven days

Provides a more precise timeframe instead of a general reference.

seven days prior

A more technical or formal way to indicate one week earlier.

one week prior to today

Very explicit and slightly redundant phrasing.

the week concluded

Emphasizes the end of the week rather than its relation to the present.

FAQs

How do I use "last week" in a sentence?

You can use "last week" to refer to events that happened in the week before the current one. For example, "I finished the report last week."

What can I say instead of "last week"?

You can use alternatives like "the previous week", "a week ago", or "in the past week" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the last week" instead of "last week"?

While "the last week" isn't grammatically incorrect, "last week" is the more common and natural way to refer to the week preceding the current one. Using "the last week" might imply you're referring to the final week of a specific period.

How does "last week" differ from "this week"?

"Last week" refers to the week that has just ended, while "this week" refers to the current week we are in.