In the recent past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "In the recent past" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period that is not too far back in time, typically within the last few months or years. Example: "In the recent past, we have seen significant changes in technology that have impacted our daily lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the recent past new holographic materials have been introduced to the market [11 15].

Journal of the European Optical Society-Rapid Publications

In the recent past, however, more research has been published.

Journal of Hydrology

In the recent past, American decline has been more evident.

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

In the recent past, active wildlife conservation has been introduced.

Pastoralism

In the recent past, it has meant somewhat less volatility.

Forbes

In the recent past, fixed point theorems have been extensively applied to best approximation theory.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

In the recent past a lot of works studied the effects of mobility in the networks.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In the recent past, the idea of altering function has been utilized by many authors.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

In the recent past, children would spend a lot of time outside.

Security Informatics

In the recent past, the theory of means has been the subject of intensive research.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

In the recent past, the generalized logarithmic mean has been the subject of intensive research.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the recent past" to provide context or background information, especially when contrasting past situations with present ones. It helps frame changes or developments over a recognizable timeframe.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences or paragraphs with "in the recent past". Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "recently" or "lately" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the recent past" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying a time frame. This sets a temporal context, indicating when an event or situation occurred, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the recent past" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to set a temporal context, indicating events that occurred not long ago. It's considered grammatically correct and enjoys widespread use across various domains. According to Ludwig, its function is to provide background or historical context, highlighting changes and developments. With a neutral register, it suits both formal and informal communication. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. Remember to avoid overusing it by varying your sentence structure with synonyms like "recently" or "lately".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Recently

This is a shorter, more direct alternative, suitable for many contexts where "in the recent past" is used.

Lately

Similar to 'recently', but can imply a connection to the present situation.

In recent times

Slightly more formal and emphasizes the period being discussed.

In the last few years

More specific, indicating a timeframe of several years.

Over the past few years

Similar to 'in the last few years', with a slightly different emphasis.

In the preceding period

A more formal alternative, often used in academic or business contexts.

Not long ago

Less formal and emphasizes the recency of the events.

In the immediately preceding time

Highlights the very short time frame involved.

Of late

A more old-fashioned synonym for 'lately'.

Up until now

Implies a change or shift from the past to the present.

FAQs

What is a simple substitute for "In the recent past"?

A simple substitute for "In the recent past" is "recently". It is shorter and works in many contexts.

How does the formality of "In the recent past" compare to other options?

"In the recent past" is fairly neutral. Options like "in recent times" lean toward formal, while phrases like "not long ago" are more informal.

Can "In the recent past" refer to events that are still happening?

Yes, "In the recent past" can include events that began in the recent past and continue to the present, offering a temporal range that encompasses ongoing processes.

Is there a specific time period that "In the recent past" refers to?

No, "In the recent past" does not refer to a fixed period. It's generally understood to mean a period from a few months to a few years before the present.