possibly next week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "possibly next week" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when offering a potential time for an event or action to take place. For example: "I'll try to finish the report by possibly next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Once the plan has been approved by the council, possibly next week, the next step will be a visit to Iraq to re-establish an inspection center in Baghdad.

The New York Times

The next step now is for the Assembly to pass its own bill, possibly next week.

The New York Times

One assumes a document will be published soon, possibly next week, since the vote is on 2 May.

The Guardian - Business

Mrs. May wants to try a third time, possibly next week, to get her plan through Parliament.

The New York Times

But since committees cannot kill legislation in New Hampshire, the full Senate will still vote on it, possibly next week.

The New York Times

This bill is so uniquely terrible that it might not command a majority when it comes to a floor vote, possibly next week, despite Speaker John Boehner's imprimatur.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"I think the possibility of the prime minister's resignation is very high, possibly next month".

The New York Times

Or possibly tomorrow.

The Guardian - Music

1. Greek euro exit, very possibly next month.

The New York Times

DERMAN--Pauline, born October 16th, 1907 (possibly 1906), died December 18th, 2006.

The New York Times

The White House seeks early confirmation hearings, possibly this month.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "possibly next week" when you want to express uncertainty about an event occurring in the following week, avoiding definitive statements.

Common error

Avoid using "possibly next week" when you have a high degree of confidence that the event will occur then; opt for more definitive language if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "possibly next week" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action might occur. It expresses the speaker's uncertainty about the timing of an event, as demonstrated in various examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis confirms that "possibly next week" is a common adverbial phrase used to express uncertainty about events occurring in the following week. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. Related phrases like "potentially next week" or "maybe next week" offer similar meanings. When using "possibly next week", ensure it aligns with the level of certainty intended and avoid overstating or understating the likelihood of the event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

potentially next week

Replaces "possibly" with "potentially", indicating a similar level of likelihood.

maybe next week

Substitutes "possibly" with "maybe", offering a more informal alternative with equivalent meaning.

perhaps next week

Uses "perhaps" instead of "possibly", suggesting a slightly more formal tone but similar uncertainty.

conceivably next week

Replaces "possibly" with "conceivably", implying that it is within the realm of possibility, although not necessarily probable.

it could happen next week

Expresses the possibility using a different sentence structure, focusing on the event itself rather than the likelihood.

there's a chance next week

Highlights the existence of a chance for something to occur, rather than directly stating the possibility.

if things go as planned, next week

Adds a condition to the possibility, indicating dependence on other factors.

pending confirmation, next week

Emphasizes that the event depends on confirmation, adding a layer of contingency.

provisionally scheduled for next week

Indicates a tentative scheduling, highlighting the possibility of changes.

tentatively next week

Uses "tentatively" to convey a provisional or subject-to-change arrangement for the following week.

FAQs

How can I use "possibly next week" in a sentence?

You can use "possibly next week" to indicate that something might happen the following week, but you are not completely sure. For example, "The report will be ready possibly next week."

What can I say instead of "possibly next week"?

You can use alternatives like "potentially next week", "maybe next week", or "perhaps next week" to express a similar meaning.

Is "possibly next week" formal or informal?

"Possibly next week" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The specific situation will determine its appropriateness.

What's the difference between "possibly next week" and "definitely next week"?

"Possibly next week" indicates uncertainty, whereas "definitely next week" indicates a high degree of certainty that something will occur. They represent opposite ends of the certainty spectrum.