once a week

Meaning

This phrase describes an action that happens one time during a seven-day period. It is a common way to express routine frequency in daily life.

Examples

• I clean my apartment once a week on Saturdays.

  I clean my apartment once a week on Saturdays.

• We order takeout food once a week.

  We order takeout food once a week.

• She calls her parents once a week to catch up.

  She calls her parents once a week to catch up.

• The team has a progress meeting once a week.

  The team has a progress meeting once a week.

• I try to go grocery shopping only once a week.

  I try to go grocery shopping only once a week.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I go to the gym one time in a week.

  ✓ I go to the gym once a week.

  While 'one time' is understandable, native speakers almost always use 'once' followed by 'a' and the time period.

• ✗ He plays soccer once per the week.

  ✓ He plays soccer once a week.

  Do not use 'the' in this frequency pattern; use 'once a week' or 'once per week' (which is more formal).

Related Expressions

Practice

• We water these plants only ___.

  💡 One time every seven days.

  Show answer

  once a week

• I visit the library ___ to get new books.

  💡 On a weekly basis.

  Show answer

  once a week