these past weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

"these past weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically means the recent weeks prior to the present time. For example, "I have been busier than usual these past weeks as I prepare for my upcoming move."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just take these past weeks.

The Economist

Denial dogged my travels around the world these past weeks.

Harvard Business Review

The culture select committee, which has been gathering evidence these past weeks, is a curious beast.

The Guardian

The story of death has been well documented these past weeks.

The New York Times

The O'Donnells had one bit of what looked like good news these past weeks.

The New York Times

The unburdening of her family history proved a burden in itself these past weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

But something more significant has been going on in Denmark these past weeks.

The Economist

One local government worker told me about the stress of these past weeks.

The New York Times

The New Yorker, March 22 , 1941P. 9 The tone of PM has been growing on us these past weeks.

The New Yorker

"So we've all had our say; I think we've all been talking enough this week and these past weeks.

The Guardian - Sport

To witness Trump's behavior these past weeks has been to watch a man preparing the outlines of his own martyrdom.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "these past weeks" when you want to refer to a period of several weeks immediately preceding the present moment, emphasizing the continuous nature of events or conditions during that time.

Common error

Avoid using "these past weeks" when you actually mean 'this past week'. The plural form implies a duration of multiple weeks, so ensure your usage accurately reflects the time frame you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "these past weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying a period immediately preceding the present. Ludwig examples showcase it modifying verbs, providing a temporal context for actions or states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "these past weeks" is a grammatically correct and commonly used time reference phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It functions as an adverbial phrase, specifying a period immediately preceding the present, often found in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, it is suitable for professional and academic writing. Remember to use this phrase when referring to a period of several weeks immediately preceding the present moment, emphasizing continuity or recent events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in recent weeks

Focuses on the recency of the weeks, omitting the 'past' aspect.

over the last few weeks

Emphasizes the duration and completion of the weeks.

during the previous weeks

Highlights that the weeks occurred before now, slightly more formal.

for the past several weeks

Indicates a longer duration than just 'few weeks'.

in the preceding weeks

More formal and less common than "these past weeks".

of late

More concise and emphasizes recent occurrences, less specific about duration.

in recent times

Broader; refers to a less defined recent period.

lately

A single word alternative, less formal than "these past weeks".

in the weeks just gone

British English alternative, more conversational.

since then

Refers to a period after a specific event, less precise.

FAQs

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

Use "these past weeks" to refer to a period of several weeks that have just passed. For example, "I've been working on this project intensely "these past weeks"".

What's an alternative to using "these past weeks"?

Alternatives include "in recent weeks", "over the last few weeks", or "during the previous weeks", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is there a difference between "these past weeks" and "last few weeks"?

"These past weeks" emphasizes the period leading up to the present, while "last few weeks" simply indicates a period that has concluded. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the connection to the current moment.

When should I use "in recent weeks" instead of "these past weeks"?

Use "in recent weeks" when the emphasis is on the recency of events, without necessarily highlighting their direct connection to the present. "These past weeks" implies a more immediate and ongoing relevance.