week by week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "week by week" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that happens or progresses gradually in weekly intervals. For example: "We tracked our progress week by week and saw a steady improvement in our results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"We are basically living week by week".

The New York Times

"The debate gathered force week by week.

The Guardian

Yet steadily, week by week, they do.

The Washington Post

Week by week, editorial jobs vanish.

The Guardian

But they are improving week by week.

The Guardian - Tech

We are basically living week by week," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Week-by-Week Syllabus Readings, due dates, and lecture/section topics.

Cornell University

"If that's a week-by-week basis, then that's how it's going to be".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's a day-by-day, week-by-week thing.

BBC

I'm taking it week-by-week and race-by-race".

BBC

"It's generally becoming a week-by-week thing.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing plans or strategies, using the phrase "week by week" can communicate flexibility and adaptability in your approach.

Common error

Avoid using "week by week" when referring to something that occurs multiple times within a single week. It specifically indicates something changing or developing each week, not several times a week.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "week by week" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the temporal progression of an action or state. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, highlighting its role in describing gradual changes over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "week by week" is a correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that describes gradual progress or changes happening at weekly intervals, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most frequently found in news, academic, and scientific writing. When using "week by week", ensure you're emphasizing the regular, weekly nature of the progression and avoid using it for events occurring multiple times within a single week. Consider alternatives like "on a weekly basis" or "each week" for variety. Understanding its proper context and usage will enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from week to week

This version emphasizes the change or variation between successive weeks.

week after week

This alternative emphasizes the repetitive nature of the progression.

each week

This alternative emphasizes the individual weeks in the progression.

with each passing week

Highlights progressive change as each new week arrives.

as the weeks go by

Describes the gradual passage of time and coinciding changes over weeks.

on a weekly basis

This alternative uses a different prepositional phrase to convey the same meaning.

by the week

A concise alternative indicating progress or tracking in weekly intervals.

over the weeks

This phrase highlights the cumulative effect over a period of weeks.

weekly

This is a single-word adjective describing something that happens every week.

in weekly increments

This highlights consistent, measured progress happening each week.

FAQs

How can I use "week by week" in a sentence?

You can use "week by week" to describe a process or change that occurs gradually over several weeks. For instance, "The project's progress was assessed "week by week" to ensure it stayed on track".

What phrases are similar to "week by week"?

Similar phrases include "on a weekly basis", "each week", or "from week to week". These all indicate a progression or change that happens every week.

Is it correct to say "weak by weak" instead of "week by week"?

No, "weak by weak" is not a correct alternative. "Week" refers to a period of seven days, while "weak" refers to a lack of strength. The correct phrase is "week by week", indicating a gradual progression.

Can "week by week" be used to describe something happening more than once a week?

No, "week by week" implies a change or development that occurs once per week. To describe multiple occurrences within a single week, use phrases like "several times a week" or "multiple times each "week"".