these last weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "these last weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a period of time that has just passed, typically indicating the most recent weeks leading up to the present moment. Example: "These last weeks have been particularly challenging for our team as we navigate through the project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

The majority of Britain's EU partners want it to stay and so - as an article in France's influential Le Monde put it last weekend - Brussels has been treading carefully these last weeks not to focus on issues that might "annoy" the UK.

BBC

Hence the spectacle of these last weeks.

The New York Times

"Only these last weeks I'm beginning to live".

The New Yorker

Something has got into me these last weeks — I do not know why.

The New Yorker

That might undercut Mr. Hevesi's attempt to break through in these last weeks.

The New York Times

By Oliver Sacks Something has got into me these last weeks — I do not know why.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

These are the last weeks to view never-before-seen works by the author and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

Huffington Post

These were to be the last weeks of maneuvers.

The New York Times - Travel

What is the impact of these viral discussions in the last weeks of the Presidential race?

Huffington Post

"People make up their mind in the last weeks of these primaries.

Los Angeles Times

Don't let these fertile last weeks of the year go to waste!

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "these last weeks" to refer to a period that immediately precedes the present moment, when you want to emphasize the recency and relevance of that time frame.

Common error

Avoid using "these last weeks" when referring to a period in the future. The phrase is specifically for referencing the recent past. For future occurrences, consider using "the coming weeks" or "the next few weeks".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "these last weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying a timeframe. It indicates when an action occurred or a state existed. Ludwig AI examples showcase its role in setting a temporal context for events or experiences.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "these last weeks" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that pinpoints a timeframe immediately preceding the present. Ludwig AI indicates that it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. While "these last weeks" is a clear and direct way to denote the recent past, alternatives such as "the past few weeks" or "recently" may offer nuanced shades of meaning. When using this phrase, ensure you're referencing a period that has already occurred, and avoid using it when discussing future events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the past few weeks

Replaces "last" with "past" and uses "few" to emphasize the limited duration.

the recent weeks

Substitutes "last" with "recent" for a similar meaning of a period just gone by.

the preceding weeks

Replaces "last" with "preceding", indicating weeks that came before the current one.

the last several weeks

Adds "several" to emphasize a slightly longer duration within the recent past.

the weeks just gone by

Emphasizes the completion of the weeks in question.

the immediately preceding weeks

Highlights the close proximity to the present time.

the weeks leading up to now

Focuses on the temporal direction towards the present.

the closing weeks

Suggests a concluding period, like the end of a season or project.

the dying weeks

Emphasizes the end of a period or season.

the final weeks

Highlights the concluding nature of the weeks in question.

FAQs

How can I use "these last weeks" in a sentence?

Use "these last weeks" to refer to the period of time that immediately precedes the present. For example: "These last weeks have been particularly busy at work."

What's the difference between "these last weeks" and "the last few weeks"?

The phrases "these last weeks" and "the last few weeks" are largely interchangeable. "These last weeks" might carry a slightly stronger sense of immediacy.

What are some alternatives to using "these last weeks"?

You can use alternatives like "the past few weeks", "recently", or "in recent weeks" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "these last weeks" to refer to future events?

No, "these last weeks" refers to a period in the past. To refer to a future period, use phrases like "the next few weeks" or "the coming weeks".