this past week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this past week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the week immediately preceding the current week, often in the context of discussing events or experiences that occurred during that time. Example: "This past week, I completed several important projects at work that I had been working on for months."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was the summer of 1967.

The New York Times

Trials of this idea are currently under way, one of which should report next year.

The Economist

"This result shows that this country has had enough.

The Guardian

This is wrong".

The New York Times

But is this right?

The New York Times

This is probably true.

The New York Times

There is a reason for this.

The New York Times - Sports

It wasn't always like this, of course.

The New York Times - Travel

This list is far from exhaustive.

The Guardian

As an environmentalist, and someone who believes that everyone in this world has a right to a healthy and nutritious diet of their choosing, I could not have chosen a more counter-productive path.

The New York Times

What explains this?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this past week" to emphasize the period immediately before the present, particularly when summarizing events or experiences within that timeframe.

Common error

Be careful not to use "this past week" when you mean "this week". "This week" refers to the current week, while "this past week" refers to the week that has already ended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this past week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when something occurred. It provides a temporal context, indicating that the event or action took place in the seven days preceding the current day.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this past week" serves as a temporal marker, pinpointing events to the week preceding the current one. It is grammatically sound, suitable for various writing styles, and aims to provide a clear sense of time. Ludwig suggests alternatives such as "last week" or "the previous week" for variety. Although the phrase is valid, the database currently lacks examples showcasing its real-world usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last week

A more concise and common way to refer to the week immediately preceding the current one.

the previous week

A slightly more formal alternative to "last week", also indicating the week before the current one.

the week before

A simple and direct way to refer to the preceding week.

a week ago

A simple alternative with the same general meaning.

during the prior week

A more formal and less common way to say "last week".

earlier this week

Refers to the beginning of the current week, not the week prior.

in the last seven days

More specific duration, referring to the seven days before today.

this time last week

Refers to a specific point in time exactly one week ago.

seven days ago

A literal description of the time passed.

the week commencing...

Specifies the starting date of the past week.

FAQs

What is the difference between "this past week" and "last week"?

While both refer to the week preceding the current one, "this past week" might be used to emphasize a sense of recentness or completion, while "last week" is a more straightforward and common alternative.

Can I use "this past week" in formal writing?

Yes, "this past week" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, consider using "the previous week" as an alternative.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "this past week"?

Some alternatives include "last week", "the previous week", or, depending on the context, phrases like "in the last seven days".

Is it ever incorrect to use the phrase "this past week"?

The phrase is grammatically correct. However, ensure it accurately reflects the intended time frame – the week immediately before the current one. Avoid using it if you mean to refer to the current week.