over the course of a week

USAGE SUMMARY

"over the course of a week" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
It is often used to indicate the passage of time or events happening during a specific period of seven days. Example: Over the course of a week, I met with various investors to pitch my business concept.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nevertheless, over the course of a week, a script emerged.

The New York Times

I'm fascinated by the patterns formed by Numberplay comment volume over the course of a week.

The New York Times

Over the course of a week or so, the thermostat learns from your manual adjustments.

The New York Times

"So over the course of a week or month people don't realize what this expense is".

The New York Times

"Wait - you think they are going to spread that out over the course of a week?

Independent

We decided to speak with 10 parents over the course of a week.

University of California, Berkeley

Both groups consumed about the same number of calories over the course of a week.

University of California, Berkeley

He asked workers to collect any waste that was produced over the course of a week.

Harvard Business Review

Over the course of a week, he visited six cities and delivered 69 speeches and sermons.

The New York Times

BBC Radio 4 will broadcast five of the letters over the course of a week.

The Guardian

She saw Anna for daily sessions over the course of a week.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over the course of a week", ensure that the timeframe is relevant to the context of your sentence. For example, it is useful when describing processes, changes, or events that unfold within a week.

Common error

Avoid using "over the course of a week" when the event being described either happens instantaneously or takes significantly longer than a week. Instead, use more precise timeframes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over the course of a week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs or clauses by specifying when an action or event occurs. Ludwig shows how this phrase is commonly used to indicate a duration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over the course of a week" serves as an adverbial phrase indicating a duration of seven days. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across various contexts. It's predominantly used in news and media, science, and academic writing, denoting a neutral formality. While it's essential to use this phrase when the event or activity genuinely spans a week, related alternatives include "during the week" and "within a week". Therefore, understanding its context and nuances ensures effective communication. Ludwig further provides insightful usage examples that demonstrate this phrase's versatility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the week

Replaces the prepositional phrase with a simpler preposition and article.

within a week

Emphasizes the limit of the time period.

in the space of a week

Highlights the limited timeframe in which something occurs.

throughout the week

Focuses on events that are spread out across the week.

in a week's time

Expresses the duration using a possessive form.

over a seven-day period

Replaces "week" with its numerical equivalent, providing a more precise timeframe.

during that week

Uses "that" to refer to a specific week already mentioned or understood.

for one week

Directly states the duration of one week.

covering a week

Describes a span or range of something that includes a week.

spanning a week

Highlights the duration of something, focusing on it lasting a full week.

FAQs

How can I use "over the course of a week" in a sentence?

You can use "over the course of a week" to describe actions, events, or changes that occur within a seven-day period. For example, "Over the course of a week, the patient's condition gradually improved."

What can I say instead of "over the course of a week"?

You can use alternatives like "during the week", "within a week", or "in the space of a week" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "during the course of a week" instead of "over the course of a week"?

While "during the week" is a simpler and valid option, "over the course of a week" is more emphatic in highlighting a process or development throughout the week.

What's the difference between "in a week" and "over the course of a week"?

"In a week" typically refers to a point in the future (e.g., "I'll finish it in a week"), whereas "over the course of a week" refers to a period during which something happens or changes.