rather this week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather this week" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where you want to emphasize a preference or choice related to the current week, but it is not commonly used. Example: "I would prefer to meet rather this week than next week."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

So I wasn't at all surprised to see my darling demonised as an instrument of jury-nobbling (nattering, rather) this week, or to read that 100,000 people in the UK alone deactivated their accounts last month, with millions more deserting in the US.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Professor Banks reminds us this was not 1959, but rather 2009.

Huffington Post

It's all rather 2015.

The Guardian

Unluckily they started rather late.

The Economist

Brokaw had been network anchor since 1983, Rather since 1981, and Jennings since 1983.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But Thompson's statement today suggested the investigation would be delivered to the trust rather earlier.

The Guardian

"Z" is just one of many pictures in which Mr. Trintignant's character enters rather late.

The New York Times

But he does acknowledge such huge responsibility has come rather early.

Independent

Rather, today's newest devices look like the progeny of iPods and Bluetooth.

The New York Times

On a chilly spring day in the boroughs, it can get downright cold rather early.

The New York Times - Sports

An appreciation of free time was fostered in her rather early.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather this week", ensure the context clearly indicates a comparison or preference against another time frame. For example, "I would like to finalize the agreement rather this week than next week."

Common error

Avoid using "rather this week" without explicitly or implicitly comparing it to another time period. Saying just "Let's aim to finish rather this week" lacks clarity; instead, specify the alternative, like "Let's aim to finish it rather this week than push it to next week."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather this week" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a preferred timeframe. It expresses a preference for an action or event to occur during the current week in contrast to another time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather this week" is an adverbial phrase used to indicate a preference for something to occur during the current week. Ludwig AI flags it as a phrase that is not standard in written English, suggesting that it may cause confusion. While grammatically acceptable, it is relatively uncommon and is best used when directly comparing the current week with another timeframe. Alternatives like "preferably this week" may provide clearer communication in some instances. This phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preferably this week

Replaces "rather" with "preferably" to emphasize preference more directly.

ideally this week

Substitutes "rather" with "ideally" to suggest the best-case scenario is for it to occur this week.

if possible, this week

Adds a conditional element, making the preference for this week less assertive.

sooner this week

Focuses on doing something earlier within the current week.

during this week instead

Emphasizes the replacement of another time with the current week.

more appropriately this week

Suggests that this week is a more suitable time than another.

better to do it this week

Indicates a preference, expressing that it is better to complete it in the current week.

this week, if convenient

Adds an element of convenience, making the preference less demanding.

this week as a priority

Highlights the importance of addressing it in the current week.

let's aim for this week

Suggests a tentative goal for the current week.

FAQs

How can I use "rather this week" in a sentence?

Use "rather this week" when you want to express a preference for something to happen during the current week as opposed to another time. For example, "I'd prefer to schedule the meeting "rather this week" than next week."

What's a more common way to say "rather this week"?

Alternatives include "preferably this week", "ideally this week", or simply "this week instead", depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify an alternative to "rather this week"?

While not strictly mandatory, specifying an alternative timeframe clarifies the preference and strengthens the meaning. Saying "I want it done "rather this week"" is less informative than saying "I want it done "rather this week" than next month."

Can "rather this week" imply urgency?

While it doesn't directly convey urgency, the implication of choosing the current week over a later time can suggest a desire to expedite the task. To explicitly indicate urgency, combine it with phrases like "as a priority" or "as soon as possible".