In a week's time vs within the space of a week

What would you say is the difference between these two phrases: ‘in a week’s time’ and ‘within the space of a week’? Thanks a lot in advance.

‘In a week’s time’ indicates - a week later from now. ‘Within the space of a week’ sounds odd to me. I would say ‘within a week’. This indicates that the action will be completed in a week at the very most.

Does that help?

Alan

1 Like

Hi Alan, here is the sentence I found the expression in, how does it sound to you in its entirety? "The organic matter they had found in the flat, which might be human in origin, had been sent for DNA analysis, and they would hopefully be getting the results back within the space of a week’.

Hi Torsten,

That makes sense to me now. The use in the sentence of ‘space’ certainly puts a boundary round ‘week’ and bears out my reference above that the action would be completed well before the week was up.

1 Like