until last week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until last week" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that has recently changed or stopped happening. Here is an example: I was able to go out for dinner and drinks every weekend until last week, when the local restaurants were closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At least not until 2033.

The New York Times

Until last week, anyway.

The Guardian - Sport

We didn't find out until last week.

The New York Times

Until last week this seemed unlikely.

The Guardian - Opinion

Or rather, it was until last week.

The Guardian - Opinion

Until last week, it was true".

The New York Times

He had largely succeeded, until last week.

The New York Times

Until last week, she was planning Christmas.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The arrangement received almost no attention until last week.

The New York Times

But until last week, his most eccentric product was Beliefnet.com.

The New York Times

Jeter's had been going well, too, until last week.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, ensure the context makes it clear what 'last week' refers to, especially if the content is not time-sensitive.

Common error

Avoid using "until last week" in contexts where the reader may not know which week is being referenced. If the content is evergreen or lacks a specific date, provide a more precise timeframe to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until last week" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when a particular state or action ceased or changed. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes a specific cut-off point in the recent past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until last week" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to specify a recent temporal boundary. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility for describing changes or conditions that persisted up to the week before the current one. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase serves to provide context and clarify timelines. When using "until last week", ensure the time reference is clear to avoid ambiguity. Remember to use this phrase to clearly communicate temporal context within sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to the previous week

Emphasizes the duration leading to the week before the current one.

prior to last week

Highlights the period before the specified week, focusing on what preceded it.

leading up to last week

Focuses on the period of time that preceded the start of last week.

before the week before

This alternative phrases emphasizes a point in time before last week.

in the days before last week

Highlights the timeframe immediately before the start of last week.

through the previous week

This focuses on an action that continued on the previous week.

until the week commencing...

Offers a more formal and specific reference to the week in question.

previously

This term is simple and indicates something happened at an earlier or previous time.

in earlier weeks

Indicates something happened in the past or earlier weeks.

in the recent past

Indicates something happened in the past, however, it's less precise than "until last week".

FAQs

How can I use "until last week" in a sentence?

You can use "until last week" to indicate that a situation or condition was true up to the week before the current one. For example, "I thought the project was on track "until last week", when we encountered unexpected delays".

What are some alternatives to saying "until last week"?

Alternatives include phrases like "up to the previous week", "prior to last week", or "before the week before". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. See more alternatives in the "related phrases" section.

Is it always clear what "last week" refers to?

No, it's not always clear. Ensure the context provides enough information for the reader to understand which week is being referenced. If there's any potential for ambiguity, use a more specific date range or timeframe.

What's the difference between "until last week" and "this week"?

"Until last week" refers to the period leading up to and excluding the current week, while "this week" refers to the current week. For example, "I was on vacation "until last week", but I'm back in the office this week".