preceding weekend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preceding weekend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the weekend that occurred just before the current time or date being discussed. Example: "We had a great time at the beach during the preceding weekend, enjoying the sun and surf."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He had been hospitalized briefly over the preceding weekend and was still feeling disoriented on the next Monday, when the trial was set to resume, family associates said.

The New York Times

The teachers, who are part of the staff of roughly 200 serving both schools, were notified of the planned merger last Monday, after administrators were told the preceding weekend, Mr. Mendel said.

The New York Times

Husted ordered all Ohio counties to allow early voting during weekdays until 7 p.m. in the last two days before the election, but not over the preceding weekend.

Huffington Post

Production was suspended for a day on 8 September following the death of first assistant director Jerry Fleck over the preceding weekend.

Wikipedia

They had conducted research showing that the fate of gubernatorial candidates in general elections seemed to be related--slightly and statistically--to whether their state's flagship university had won its football game the preceding weekend.

Huffington Post

Exposure to the sun resulting in sunburn over the preceding weekend was reported by 13% of adults in this survey.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The last three years, not counting this past weekend, the film industry's box-office totals were down an average of 16percentt during Super Bowl weekend, compared with the preceding weekends, according to ACNielsen EDI.

The New York Times

-- Linda Wells, New York, N.Y. A. The Indianapolis 500, said to be the biggest single-day sporting event in the world, with an estimated 350,000 spectators, is set for May 27 this year, with qualification runs on the two preceding weekends.

The New York Times - Travel

Disrupt Europe is on October 20-21 in London, plus there is a preceding free weekend hackathon, so put it in your diaries now!

TechCrunch

In general, there was no significant difference in contact intensity when comparing males and females, nor was there a difference among the different days of the week preceding the weekend.

BMC Infectious Diseases

A holiday game Friday was to precede the weekend action, though, with Liverpool facing Newcastle United.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formal documents, "preceding weekend" adds a level of precision, particularly when differentiating it from other weekends within a larger timeframe. Make sure the context clearly establishes what event or date the weekend is preceding.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating which weekend you are referring to. If it's the one that just passed, "last weekend" might be clearer. "Following weekend" refers to the one after a specific event, not before.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preceding weekend" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as an adjunct modifying another noun or verb phrase by specifying a time frame relative to another event. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preceding weekend" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to indicate the weekend immediately before a specified event. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and serves to establish a clear temporal reference. While not as common as alternatives like "last weekend", "preceding weekend" offers a level of precision suitable for formal contexts, especially in news, scientific, and encyclopedia sources. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly identifies the reference event to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous weekend

Replaces "preceding" with "previous", maintaining the same meaning but with a slightly more common word.

the prior weekend

Substitutes "preceding" with "prior", offering a slightly more formal tone.

last weekend

A more concise and frequently used alternative to "preceding weekend".

the weekend immediately before

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the temporal sequence.

the weekend before

Uses a different structure to convey the same temporal relationship.

the recently passed weekend

Emphasizes that the weekend has just concluded.

the weekend beforehand

A less formal alternative that indicates the weekend occurred before a specific event.

aforementioned weekend

Refers to a weekend previously mentioned in the context.

the weekend that just passed

A more conversational and informal way of referring to the "preceding weekend".

the weekend in question

Used when the specific weekend has already been established or is implied.

FAQs

How can I use "preceding weekend" in a sentence?

Use "preceding weekend" to refer to the weekend that happened immediately before a specific event or time. For example: "The teachers were notified of the changes last Monday, after administrators were informed the "preceding weekend"."

What are some alternatives to saying "preceding weekend"?

You can use phrases like "last weekend", "previous weekend", or "the weekend before" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "preceding weekend" formal or informal?

"Preceding weekend" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "last weekend". It's suitable for professional or academic writing.

When is it best to use "preceding weekend" instead of "last weekend"?

Use "preceding weekend" when you need to be precise and avoid any ambiguity, especially in formal contexts where clarity is essential. "Last weekend" might suffice in casual conversation.