the week preceding

USAGE SUMMARY

"the week preceding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the week before a specific event or time frame. Example: I will be on vacation during the week of June 10th, so please send all project updates the week preceding my return.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the week preceding this meeting, I hadn't gotten a hit in two games.

The New York Times

The torture of flying with young children starts the week preceding the journey.

The Washington Post

Carnival, the most important festival, is held during the week preceding Lent.

Britannica

Mr. Jobs ran a high fever for the week preceding his presentation, according to an industry executive he spoke with.

The New York Times - Tech

A report from an investigation ordered in March by Cuomo is due in the week preceding the Travers Stakes.

The New York Times - Sports

If there's one lesson learned from 33 Super Bowls, it's that there is little that passes as true wisdom in the week preceding the game.

The New York Times - Sports

League rules demand that all natural turf fields should be covered if precipitation is expected during the week preceding each game.

The New York Times - Sports

He was bed-bound with flu in the week preceding Augusta, with that illness spreading into his chest just by the time he thought full health had arrived.

The Guardian - Sport

An earlier film by each director will be screened at the Garden in the week preceding, enabling audiences to see prior and current work by these directors.

Princeton University

To have your poster printed at MGCF be sure to contact the center well in advance to schedule a printing appointment for the week preceding the poster session.

University of California, Berkeley

In the week preceding the performance, potential research participants were emailed a consent form, background information and sociodemographic form, and two standardized stigma measures (described below).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarity is crucial, specify the event that "the week preceding" refers to, especially if the context doesn't make it immediately obvious. For example, instead of saying "data was collected the week preceding", clarify with "data was collected the week preceding the surgery".

Common error

Ensure that "the week preceding" has a clear reference point in your writing. Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating what event or date the week is leading up to. For example, instead of simply stating "results were analyzed the week preceding", specify "results were analyzed the week preceding the conference".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the week preceding" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by specifying a time frame. It indicates the seven-day period immediately before a particular event or date. Ludwig examples show its usage in various scientific and academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the week preceding" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase that specifies the seven-day period immediately before a particular event. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in a variety of contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it often appears in formal writing, scientific research, and news reporting. To ensure clarity, always specify the event to which the week is leading up. Alternatives such as "the previous week" or "the week before" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. The phrase serves to give a clear temporal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the previous week

Uses "previous" for a more direct reference to the week before.

the week before

Offers a simpler, more common way to express the same timeframe.

the week just before

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the week preceding.

the week leading up to

Emphasizes the build-up or preparation for a subsequent event.

the immediately preceding week

Formal and emphasizes the direct proximity in time.

the seven days before

Provides a more literal and less idiomatic description.

the week in advance of

Formal alternative, highlighting preparation time.

in the days prior

Shifts the focus from a week to the days immediately before an event.

prior week

A concise and slightly less formal option.

the antecedent week

A more formal and less common way to describe the preceding week.

FAQs

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

Use "the week preceding" to specify a seven-day period before a particular event or date. For example, "All questionnaires were completed during the week preceding the study entry."

What phrases are similar to "the week preceding"?

Alternatives include "the previous week", "the week before", or "the week leading up to" depending on the specific context.

Is there a more formal way to say "the week preceding"?

Yes, "the immediately preceding week" or "the week in advance of" are more formal options.

When is it better to use "the week before" instead of "the week preceding"?

"The week before" is generally more conversational and suitable for informal contexts. "The week preceding" is slightly more formal and often used in academic or professional writing.