the previous thursday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the previous Thursday" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the Thursday that occurred before the current date or a specified date in the past. Example: "We had a meeting on the previous Thursday to discuss the project updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

The sides had not met since the previous Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

That was an increase of 69percentt over the previous Thursday.

The New York Times

"We had notification since the previous Thursday that the event would take place that day," he said.

The New York Times

The previous Thursday, Mr. Carter's "Two Diversions" were included in another of Carnegie's adventures, "The Carnegie Hall Millennium Piano Book".

The New York Times - Arts

At the opening night party held the previous Thursday, stylish Miami locals in varsity jackets and microdot shirts outnumbered tourists.

The New York Times

The previous Thursday, Dr. Muzaffar Sammon dropped off his children at school, then stopped at a bakery where three men approached his car and opened fire, killing him.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The previous day, the number was 507.

The New York Times

He described the previous day as "momentous".

The New Yorker

Heath had turned 32 the previous day.

The Guardian - Sport

As on the previous day the opposite happened.

The Guardian - Sport

It was last Tuesday, not the previous day.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the previous Thursday", ensure the context clearly establishes the point of reference from which the Thursday is considered 'previous'. Be mindful of your audience's understanding of the timeline.

Common error

Avoid using "the previous Thursday" if the timeline is unclear or could be misinterpreted. Provide a specific date or event to anchor the reference, preventing confusion about which Thursday you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the previous Thursday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, and examples show it clearly indicates a specific Thursday in the past relative to a known point.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the previous Thursday" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase of time, primarily found in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for indicating a specific Thursday before a reference point. While "last Thursday" is a concise alternative, ensure clarity by establishing a clear timeline. Avoid ambiguity by providing specific dates or events. The analysis reveals that it serves to provide temporal context and maintain a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last Thursday

This is the most direct and common synonym, replacing "the previous" with "last" for brevity.

the Thursday before

This alternative emphasizes the sequential relationship to a specific event or date.

the Thursday prior

Replaces "previous" with "prior", maintaining a formal tone.

the Thursday of the week before

Adds specificity by explicitly stating "of the week before".

a week ago Thursday

Uses a more conversational and less formal construction.

the Thursday preceding

Substitutes "previous" with the more formal term "preceding".

that Thursday

Implies a Thursday already under discussion, rather than a generic one.

the Thursday in the week just past

A more verbose and descriptive alternative.

the indicated Thursday

Suggests that the particular Thursday has been pointed out or highlighted in some way.

the aforementioned Thursday

Indicates that the Thursday has been specifically mentioned before in the text.

FAQs

How do I use "the previous Thursday" in a sentence?

Use "the previous Thursday" to refer to the Thursday that occurred immediately before a specific date or event you're discussing. For example, "The meeting was scheduled for Friday, but we had a planning session on the previous Thursday".

What's a more concise alternative to "the previous Thursday"?

A shorter and often more common alternative is "last Thursday". It conveys the same meaning in most contexts.

How does "the previous Thursday" differ from "the Thursday before"?

Both phrases are quite similar. "The Thursday before" is slightly more general and might require additional context to be as clear as "the previous Thursday", which implies a more direct and immediate sequence.

Is it ever incorrect to use "the previous Thursday"?

While grammatically sound, using "the previous Thursday" can be confusing if the surrounding text doesn't establish a clear reference point. In such cases, specifying a date or using "last Thursday" might be better.