on the previous week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on the previous week" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about something that happened during the week that just ended. For example: "I completed my project on the previous week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Next, the writers (except the one working on the previous week's episode) meet in the anteroom to Whedon's office to begin 'breaking' the story into acts and scenes.

Wikipedia

This was down 200,000 viewers and one share point on the previous week.

The Guardian

Californication was up against Channel 4's investigation drama Without a Trace, which increased its audience by 200,000 viewers and one share point on the previous week, pulling in 1.5 million and 9% across the 10pm hour.

The Guardian

This was 300,000 viewers and one share point down on the previous week.

The Guardian

and a 6.4% increase on the previous week.

The Guardian

It was definitely an improvement on the previous week.

Independent

This was down 200,000 viewers and two share points on the previous week.

The Guardian

Asda also reported strong sales, up 100% year on year and up 65% on the previous week.

The Guardian - Business

There were 441,100 attendances in A&E units, down slightly on the previous week when it was 445,000.

The Guardian

For the last 3 y, we have asked the residents to reflect on the previous week and describe "the best thing" they learned.

Journal of Surgical Research

This was down 1.4 million and eight share points on the previous week, when the show ran in the hour from 6.45pm.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on the previous week" to clearly indicate a comparison between the current week and the one immediately preceding it. This is especially useful when discussing trends, changes, or progress over time.

Common error

Avoid using "on the previous week" when you actually mean "last weekend" or "earlier this week". Be precise with your time references to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the previous week" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the time frame to which the action or state relates. Ludwig indicates that this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

21%

Science

17%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on the previous week" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial phrase that serves to provide a temporal point of reference for comparisons. As Ludwig AI points out, it's widely used across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. When writing, remember to use it when a direct and clear comparison to the immediately preceding week is intended. Common alternatives include "last week" or "in the week before", each offering subtle differences in emphasis. While versatile, ensure it is used accurately to avoid any confusion with other time references.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the prior week

Replaces 'previous' with 'prior' and uses 'during' instead of 'on', maintaining the same temporal reference.

in the week before

Changes the structure to emphasize the week preceding the current one.

the week prior

A more concise version using 'prior' to indicate the preceding week.

last week

A simpler and more direct way of referring to the week before the current one.

in the preceding week

Uses more formal language ('preceding') to denote the week before.

the week before that

Indirectly specifies a prior week but may require additional context to clarify which week.

a week earlier

Indicates an event happened one week before a specific point in time.

seven days prior

Refers to a specific time period before a given date or event.

the week gone by

A more idiomatic way of referring to the week that has just passed.

in the week concluded

Emphasizes that the previous week has ended or concluded.

FAQs

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

You can use "on the previous week" to compare data or events from the week prior. For example, "Sales were up 10% "on the previous week"".

What can I say instead of "on the previous week"?

You can use alternatives like "last week", "in the week before", or "during the prior week" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in the previous week" instead of "on the previous week"?

Both "on the previous week" and "in the previous week" are generally acceptable, although "on the previous week" is slightly more common. Consider "during the prior week" as another alternative.

What's the difference between "the previous week" and "a previous week"?

"The previous week" refers to the week immediately before the current one, while "a previous week" refers to any week in the past. The former is specific; the latter is general.