the previous week

USAGE SUMMARY

"the previous week" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to the week that occurred directly before the current week. Example: "The previous week had been stressful, with back-to-back meetings and tight deadlines. But now, as I relaxed on the beach, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the much-needed vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Highlights from the previous week.

The New York Times

We had it the previous week".

The New York Times - Sports

(That happened the previous week).

The New York Times

Noy had turned 12 the previous week.

The New York Times

The previous week, 22 protesters were killed.

The Washington Post

The agenda is set the previous week by consensus.

Columbia University

The previous week, his team lost at Troy.

The New York Times - Sports

The previous week was the only one smaller.

The New York Times

They had closed the previous week at $16.93.

The New York Times

Claims fell by 3,000 the previous week.

The New York Times

That was up from 9.18 million in the previous week.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the previous week", ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity, especially if discussing multiple past events.

Common error

Avoid using "the previous week" when referring to a week further in the past than the one immediately preceding the current week. Use "two weeks ago", "several weeks ago", or specify the exact dates instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the previous week" functions as a temporal adjunct, specifying a time frame relative to the current week. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating when an action or event took place, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

19%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the previous week" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase that refers to the week immediately preceding the current one. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. The phrase functions as a temporal adjunct, providing a clear and specific time reference. While interchangeable with alternatives like "last week" or "the week before", it's crucial to maintain clarity and avoid confusion with events further in the past. Remember to clearly establish the time frame to provide precise information, ensuring that "the previous week" is used appropriately in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the week before

Replaces 'previous' with 'before', offering a more concise alternative.

last week

A more common and informal way to refer to "the previous week".

the week prior

Substitutes 'previous' with 'prior', maintaining a formal tone.

a week ago

Expresses the time frame in terms of duration from the present.

the week preceding this one

A more verbose alternative, emphasizing the sequence of weeks.

the week that just ended

Focuses on the completion of the week in question.

seven days prior

Highlights the exact duration (seven days) before the current date.

the week gone by

Uses a more poetic or literary style.

earlier in the month

Shifts the reference to a broader time frame if the previous week was at the beginning of the month.

the week of [date]

Specifies the exact week by referencing a date within that week.

FAQs

How can I use "the previous week" in a sentence?

You can use "the previous week" to refer to events or occurrences in the week before the current one. For instance, "The sales figures were significantly higher than "the previous week"."

What's a more informal alternative to "the previous week"?

A more informal alternative to "the previous week" is "last week". For example, instead of saying "The meeting was rescheduled from the previous week", you could say "The meeting was rescheduled from last week."

How does "the previous week" compare to "the following week"?

"The previous week" refers to the week immediately before the current week, while "the following week" refers to the week immediately after the current week. They are opposite in temporal direction.

Is "the previous week" interchangeable with "the preceding week"?

Yes, "the previous week" and "the preceding week" are generally interchangeable and have the same meaning. The choice often depends on stylistic preference.