two weeks have gone by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two weeks have gone by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the passage of time, typically when reflecting on a duration that has elapsed since a specific event or point in time. Example: "It's hard to believe that two weeks have gone by since we last met; time really flies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Two weeks have gone by and this has not happened.

The New York Times

Meantime two weeks have gone by for three words.

The New Yorker

From past experience with hamstrings, I know it takes about three weeks, and two weeks have gone by already.

The New York Times - Sports

It's quite a surprise, in fact, that when the curtain rises on Act II, two weeks have gone by, and everyone is still there.

The New York Times

At least two weeks have gone by...it's not looking good for the return of Blue.

Huffington Post

"The whole thing is so absurd that I can't believe two weeks have gone by and they're still there.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Two weeks had gone by like this.

The New Yorker

Back then, it took a couple weeks for the trademark process, and by the time those two weeks had gone by, I had told everybody I was going to name my company Body Armor.

The Washington Post

Part of the problem was that two weeks had gone by and she hadn't sent a reminder to everyone saying in case you forgot about the party, looking forward to seeing you, etc.

The New Yorker

Seven weeks have gone by in a trial that was originally expected to take five.

The Times

Four weeks have gone by since many fans whistled against Serena Williams in a semifinal match of the French Open.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "two weeks have gone by" to emphasize the duration of time that has passed since a particular event or decision, especially when reflecting on the consequences or changes that have occurred during that period. This phrasing can add a reflective tone to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "gone" in place of "gone by" when indicating the passage of time. For instance, avoid writing "Two weeks have gone" as it is grammatically incomplete. It should always be "Two weeks have gone by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two weeks have gone by" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating the passage of time. It modifies a verb or clause to specify when something occurred or how long something has lasted. Ludwig indicates that this is a valid and commonly used expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "two weeks have gone by" is a grammatically sound and usable English phrase that indicates the passage of a two-week period. Ludwig's analysis, along with various examples from reliable sources, suggests it's most commonly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While alternative phrasings like "a fortnight has passed" or "two weeks have elapsed" exist, "two weeks have gone by" offers a neutral tone suitable for a variety of situations. Be mindful of using the correct tense with "gone by" to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two weeks have elapsed

Replaces "gone by" with "elapsed", offering a more formal synonym.

two weeks have transpired

Substitutes "gone by" with "transpired", resulting in a more literary feel.

a couple of weeks have passed

Employs "a couple of weeks" to indicate a similar timeframe in a less precise manner.

a fortnight has passed

Uses "fortnight" instead of "two weeks" for a more formal tone.

it's been two weeks

Simplifies the structure while retaining the core meaning of the time elapsed.

since then, two weeks have passed

Highlights the elapsed time since a specific event.

a period of two weeks has passed

Emphasizes the timeframe with a more descriptive construction.

two weeks are now over

Focuses on the completion of the period rather than the passage of time itself.

the last two weeks are behind us

Suggests that the period has been completed and is now in the past.

we're two weeks further on

Implies progress or advancement over the two-week period.

FAQs

What does "two weeks have gone by" mean?

The phrase "two weeks have gone by" signifies that a period of fourteen days has passed since a specific event or point in time. It's used to indicate the duration of time that has elapsed.

How can I use "two weeks have gone by" in a sentence?

You can use "two weeks have gone by" to reflect on the changes or progress made during that time. For example, "Two weeks have gone by and I still haven't heard back from them."

What are some alternatives to "two weeks have gone by"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a fortnight has passed", "two weeks have elapsed", or "a couple of weeks have passed", depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is it more correct to say "two weeks passed" or "two weeks have gone by"?

Both "two weeks passed" and "two weeks have gone by" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different nuances. "Two weeks passed" is a simple statement of fact, while "two weeks have gone by" often implies a sense of reflection or surprise at how quickly time has passed.