I now recall

USAGE SUMMARY

'I now recall' is a perfectly idiomatic phrase in written English.
It is often used to indicate that someone has just remembered something. For example, "I now recall that I had promised to attend the meeting this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

My heart sinks: I now recall a distinct click.

Independent

Mum was very content with the arrangement, I now recall.

The Guardian

Except, the fire wasn't the end of the night for me, I now recall.

The New Yorker

I now recall that she believed she had drowned in a previous life and in this, had one serious fear: "deep, dark water".

The Guardian

Ah, how fondly I now recall those idyllic rally days in Fountain Hills, Tucson, Rothschild, and Eau Claire, back in March and early April, when the punching was being done by Trump supporters.

The New Yorker

Looking back at last time around, I now recall Sasa Stanisic's excellent debut from a couple of years ago, How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone – though from what I remember, the sequence in Bosnia, before his young narrator ever made it to Germany, was much the strongest part.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It was in the long, hot summer of 1975, after finishing university and before the shades of the prison-house – finding a job – closed in that somehow, for reasons I cannot now recall, I found myself reading The Pickwick Papers in my parents' sun-dappled garden.

The Guardian - Opinion

Eq. (1) is rewritten as (2) P (x i,   a ) = e x p (− (x i − C i a α i ) 2 2 α i − 1 2 (1 μ − C i 2 α i ) a 2 ) Now, recall the stability of the distribution P (x i, a), i.e., whether it has a peak in the space with x i and a.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

I don't know what causes them, though I can now recall and identify several.

The Guardian - Opinion

Memorable moment: Understanding the environmental pressures on coffee farmers and how a little technical assistance can transform their livelihoods is something I'll now recall and appreciate with every cup of java I drink.

The Guardian

"I do now recall the March 2016 meeting at Trump Hotel that Mr. Papadopoulos attended, but I have no clear recollection of the details of what he said during that meeting," Sessions said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing in the first person, "I now recall" can make your narrative feel more authentic and relatable, as it mimics the way people often remember things in real life.

Common error

Avoid using "I now recall" excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and unnatural. Instead, vary your phrasing with synonyms like "I remember now" or "I recollect".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I now recall" functions as a memory retrieval marker, indicating that the speaker or writer is bringing a past event or piece of information to their conscious awareness. It adds a sense of immediacy and discovery to the narrative, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I now recall" serves as a useful tool for introducing newly remembered information into a narrative or conversation. It is grammatically correct and can be used in various contexts, although it's most common in news, media, and scientific writing. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as a memory retrieval marker, adding a touch of immediacy and discovery. While versatile, it's advisable to use this phrase judiciously to avoid sounding repetitive. Alternatives like "I remember now" or "I suddenly remember" can provide variety while conveying similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I now remember

Replaces "recall" with "remember", a more common and slightly less formal synonym.

I remember now

A simpler and more direct way of saying the same thing.

I recollect now

Uses "recollect" instead of "recall", offering a slightly more formal tone.

Now I remember

Inverts the phrase for a slightly different emphasis, focusing on the present moment of remembering.

I suddenly remember

Adds the element of surprise or suddenness to the act of remembering.

I recall at this moment

Emphasizes the present moment of recalling.

I vaguely recall

Indicates an uncertain or incomplete memory.

It comes back to me now

Emphasizes the gradual return of a memory.

I now realize

Shifts the focus to understanding or becoming aware of something, rather than simply remembering.

I can now bring to mind

A more verbose and descriptive way of expressing the act of remembering.

FAQs

How can I use "I now recall" in a sentence?

"I now recall" is used to introduce something you've just remembered. For example, "I now recall that I promised to call her back."

What's a less formal alternative to "I now recall"?

Less formal alternatives include "I remember now" or "I now remember".

Is it correct to say "Now I recall" instead of "I now recall"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "Now I recall" places more emphasis on the moment of remembering, while "I now recall" is slightly more neutral.

What's the difference between "I now recall" and "I vaguely recall"?

"I now recall" suggests a clear memory, whereas "I vaguely recall" indicates an uncertain or incomplete memory.