"The week commencing" is a collocation that specifies a particular week by indicating the date on which it begins. It means 'the week beginning on' or 'the week starting on'. The date given is usually the Monday of that week, though this may vary depending on local conventions.
The meaning is compositional; the words retain their individual meanings and combine to create a straightforward, predictable meaning.
The register is generally considered formal or neutral. It is more common in official announcements, business contexts, and journalistic writing than in casual conversation.
The grammatical pattern is adjective + noun. "Commencing" acts as an adjective modifying "week".
It is typically followed by a date (day, month, and sometimes year). No prepositions are needed after "commencing" when it's used in this collocation.
The components should not be separated. "The week commencing [date]" is a fixed phrase.
Using a different verb like "starting" in a formal context, while understandable, sounds less sophisticated. Adding a preposition after "commencing" (e.g., "the week commencing on...") is incorrect and unnatural. Using it to refer to something other than a week is also incorrect.
These examples are sourced from the week commencing on Ludwig.guru.
"The ties will be played during the week commencing 30 November." — The Guardian - Sport
"A prospectus will be issued in the week commencing January 25 with the deal set to close on January 29." — Independent
"The first legs will be played in the week commencing 4 January, with the decisive matches in the week of 25 January." — The Guardian - Sport
"I can confirm today that we intend to return to the meaningful vote debate in the week commencing 7th January and hold the vote the following week." — The Guardian
"The decisions of the panel will be announced during the week commencing 24 June." — BBC
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/the+week+commencing
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| the week beginning | A slightly less formal alternative. |
| the week starting | A more common and neutral alternative. |
| the week of | Can be used, but less precise; implies the specified date falls within the week, not necessarily the start. |
| starting the week of | Rephrasing to use 'starting' as a verb. |
| from the week of | Similar to 'the week of', less precise. |
| beginning the week of | Similar to 'starting the week of', using 'beginning' as a verb. |
| the week that starts on | More descriptive and less concise. |
Using "the week commencing on [date]" is a common mistake, as the preposition "on" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect. Also, it's incorrect to separate the components; for example, saying "the commencing week of..." sounds very unnatural. The most common mistake is using it in informal contexts where a simpler phrase like 'the week starting' would be more appropriate, or using 'commence' incorrectly in other contexts.
| Expression | Meaning | Grammatical Pattern | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| the week commencing | The week beginning on a specific date. | Adjective + Noun | Formal/Neutral |
No, the phrase "the week commencing" should be used as a fixed unit. Altering the word order or inserting words within the phrase makes it grammatically incorrect and unnatural; it should always be "the week commencing [date]".
Both phrases indicate the beginning of a week, but "the week commencing" is generally considered more formal than "the week starting". In most casual contexts, "the week starting" is perfectly acceptable, while "the week commencing" is preferred in official or business communications.
While grammatically correct, using "the week commencing" in informal settings can sound overly formal. A simpler phrase like "the week starting [date]" or even just "next week" would likely be more appropriate and natural in casual conversation.
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