this past Wednesday

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this past Wednesday" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the Wednesday that occurred most recently before the current day. Example: "We had a meeting this past Wednesday to discuss the upcoming project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

This past Wednesday morning, cashiers at the La Crescenta location carried trays of food to a handful of eager diners.

Los Angeles Times

Services were held this past Wednesday.

The New York Times

Now move ahead to this past Wednesday night.

The New York Times - Arts

Not all of the 21 people who showed up this past Wednesday were actually grannies.

The New York Times

Beloved wife, mother, step-mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister passed away this past Wednesday, November 10.

The New York Times

This past Wednesday marked with the sixtieth anniversary of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first summit of Mt. Everest.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

The deadline was this past Monday.

The New York Times

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving.

The Guardian - Opinion

She returned this past Friday.

The New York Times

He was discharged this past Friday morning.

The New York Times - Sports

It was June 28, not this past Saturday.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, especially in contexts where multiple Wednesdays might be relevant, consider adding the date to "this past Wednesday" (e.g., "This past Wednesday, July 16th") for greater specificity.

Common error

Avoid using "this past Wednesday" when referring to a Wednesday in the future. Instead, use phrases like "next Wednesday" or "this coming Wednesday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this past Wednesday" functions as a temporal adverbial, specifying when an event occurred. As Ludwig AI suggests, this indicates the Wednesday immediately preceding the current day. Many examples show this use in news reports and personal announcements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this past Wednesday" is a common and correct way to refer to the Wednesday immediately preceding the present day. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, highlighting its frequent use across diverse sources, particularly in news and media contexts. To avoid ambiguity, be mindful of the current day and whether the intended reference is clear. When in doubt, specify the date or use alternative phrases like "last Wednesday" or "the Wednesday before this one" for better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Last Wednesday

This is the simplest and most direct synonym, omitting "past" for brevity.

The previous Wednesday

A straightforward substitute that avoids the use of "this".

The Wednesday before this one

This alternative is more explicit and avoids ambiguity, especially if the current day is close to Wednesday.

A week ago Wednesday

This construction clarifies the timeframe by specifying the period since Wednesday.

Wednesday of last week

This phrase adds emphasis on the previous week.

The Wednesday just gone

This option uses a more informal tone.

This Wednesday gone

This is a less common but understandable variation, useful for emphasis.

The recent Wednesday

This alternative highlights the recency of the day.

The Wednesday in the prior week

More formal and detailed, useful in technical writing.

Wednesday gone by

An older or more poetic expression, implying time has passed.

FAQs

How can I use "this past Wednesday" in a sentence?

You can use "this past Wednesday" to refer to the Wednesday that occurred most recently before today. For example, "I attended a conference "this past Wednesday"".

What can I say instead of "this past Wednesday"?

You can use alternatives like "last Wednesday", "the Wednesday before this one", or "the previous Wednesday" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "this past Wednesday" or "last Wednesday"?

Both "this past Wednesday" and "last Wednesday" are generally correct and interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "this past Wednesday" and "this coming Wednesday"?

"This past Wednesday" refers to the Wednesday that has already occurred before today, while "this coming Wednesday" refers to the Wednesday that will occur in the future.