some weeks ago

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "some weeks ago" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period in the past, typically indicating that something happened a few weeks prior to the present moment. Example: "Some weeks ago, I attended a fascinating seminar on climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(And, as reported some weeks ago, a rabbi).

The New York Times

We redesigned the front page and the rest of the paper some weeks ago, guys.

Independent

Some weeks ago, Louis Begley, the lawyer turned novelist, received a phone call with exciting news.

The New Yorker

Some weeks ago, shortly before Nigeria's independence day, I received a mass text message.

The New York Times

Many of you may remember my post some weeks ago on Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate (here).

Stanford University

His successor as national president, who had been identified some weeks ago, will be announced shortly".

The Guardian

Some weeks ago, "the American planes came, we were terrified, and we left," Nabila said.

The New York Times

The New Yorker, June 17 , 1972P. 23 Some weeks ago, Sen. Wm.

The New Yorker

So some weeks ago, when his cancer was diagnosed, I was totally at a loss.

The New York Times

Zurich Re, some weeks ago, indicated that it would buy $1bn in green bonds.

The Guardian

By Jonathan Schell The New Yorker, June 17 , 1972P. 23 Some weeks ago, Sen. Wm.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "some weeks ago" to provide a general, non-specific timeframe. If precision is needed, specify the exact number of weeks (e.g., "three weeks ago").

Common error

While "some weeks ago" is acceptable in most contexts, consider using more precise or formal language in academic or professional writing, such as "several weeks prior" or specifying the exact timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "some weeks ago" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating when an action occurred. Ludwig confirms its proper usage for specifying a point in time in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "some weeks ago" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that an event occurred a few weeks in the past. Ludwig confirms its correct usage and wide applicability across different contexts. While frequently used in news and media, it also appears in academic and scientific writing. For increased formality, consider alternatives like "several weeks prior". Use "some weeks ago" when a precise timeframe isn't necessary, and remember it provides general temporal context without needing exact dates.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Weeks earlier

A more concise version, omitting "some" for brevity but maintaining the same temporal reference.

Several weeks prior

Emphasizes the temporal distance using "several" and "prior" instead of "some" and "ago".

A number of weeks ago

Replaces "some" with "a number of" to indicate an indefinite quantity of weeks.

A few weeks back

Uses more informal language, replacing "some" with "a few" and "ago" with "back".

Several weeks in the past

Rephrases the time reference using "in the past" instead of "ago".

A handful of weeks ago

Similar to "a few weeks ago" but suggests a slightly larger, though still indefinite, number of weeks.

In recent weeks

Shifts the focus to a period of time rather than a specific point, using "in" to frame the time.

In the past few weeks

Similar to "in recent weeks", focusing on a period of time rather than a single point.

A couple of weeks ago

More specific, indicating approximately two weeks in the past.

Not long ago

A broader timeframe, less specific than "some weeks ago" but indicating a relatively recent past.

FAQs

How can I use "some weeks ago" in a sentence?

You can use "some weeks ago" to indicate that something happened a few weeks before the present time. For example, "Some weeks ago, I attended a conference on renewable energy."

What's a more formal way to say "some weeks ago"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "several weeks prior" or specifying the timeframe precisely (e.g., "three weeks earlier").

What's the difference between "a few weeks ago" and "some weeks ago"?

The phrases "a few weeks ago" and "some weeks ago" are very similar in meaning and are often interchangeable. The choice between them is largely a matter of personal preference or style.

Can I use "some weeks ago" at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, you can start a sentence with "some weeks ago" to emphasize the timeframe. For example, "Some weeks ago, the company announced its new sustainability initiative."