past week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "past week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the week that has just concluded or the seven days leading up to the current day. Example: "In the past week, I have made significant progress on my project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

His party has taken a pasting over the past five years for its participation in the coalition and looks set to lose at least half of its seats.

The Guardian - Opinion

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

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

The Guardian - Sport

Washington, March 8, 2011.

The New York Times

Specifically, the Nasdaq excludes anyone who was employed the company in the past three years.

The New York Times

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

The New York Times

I think there might have been the odd humorous comment over the porridge about supposing he had some work to do next week".

The Guardian

Over the past decade, Kazakhs have experienced a steady reduction in individual rights.

The Guardian

Gray died a week after he was arrested on 12 April, then handcuffed and shackled in the back of a police van without a seatbelt.

The Guardian

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

The same can't be said, though, of the boom of the past decade.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "past week", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to the seven days leading up to the present or a specific week already concluded.

Common error

Avoid using "past week" when the specific week you're referring to is unclear. If needed, specify dates or use "last week" for the week immediately preceding the current one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying a duration of seven days prior to the moment of speaking or writing. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

34%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "past week" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that refers to the seven days preceding the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adverbial phrase of time, helping to situate events within a recent timeframe and carries a neutral register, making it adaptable to various writing styles. While "last week" is a strong alternative, "past week" offers a broader reference to any seven-day period leading up to the present. To maintain clarity, ensure that your context makes your meaning clear. It is used in “News & Media”, “Science” and “Formal & Business” contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Last week

A more concise and direct synonym, specifying the immediately preceding week.

Previous week

Similar to 'last week', emphasizing the week that came before the current one.

The week before this one

A more descriptive way of saying 'last week', useful for clarity.

In the last seven days

Specifies the exact timeframe, useful for precision.

During the past seven days

Similar to 'in the last seven days', but slightly more formal.

The week that just ended

Focuses on the completion of the referenced week.

Most recently

More general term; requires context for the time period to be clear.

Lately

Indicates a period in the recent past without specifying the exact duration.

Over the preceding week

A more formal and descriptive phrase for the week before now.

In recent days

Refers to the recent past but doesn't specify exactly seven days.

FAQs

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

Use "past week" to refer to the seven days leading up to the current day. For example, "The stock market has been volatile in the past week."

What's the difference between "past week" and "last week"?

"Last week" refers specifically to the seven-day period immediately before the current week. "Past week" is a broader term that refers to the seven days leading up to the current day but doesn't necessarily align with the calendar week.

Can I use "previous week" instead of "past week"?

Yes, "previous week" is often interchangeable with "past week", though "last week" is often preferred for simplicity.

Is "past week" formal or informal?

"Past week" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The specific context of your writing will dictate whether a more precise or formal phrase is needed.