Moments ago

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Moments ago" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to something that just happened a short time before the current moment. Example: "The meeting started moments ago, so we should hurry to catch up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Moments ago I was fired.

The New Yorker

Moments ago, sitting behind his big desk, Father Leon had just looked young and alone.

The New Yorker

Moments ago the deal was confirmed.

TechCrunch

Moments ago at E3, Microsoft showed off it's upcoming motion sensing system.

TechCrunch

Moments ago, a rare single letter domain name was auctioned off live over the Internet.

TechCrunch

Moments ago, I vetoed #SB1062.

Huffington Post

Kenny became "Moments Ago" Perry.

The New York Times - Sports

11.26am Cardiff, a few moments ago.

The Guardian - Sport

— JONATHAN WEISMAN The president started speaking just moments ago.

The New York Times

The plane arrived on the scene moments ago.

The New York Times

Fallin says she spoke with Obama "a few moments ago".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Moments ago" to create a sense of immediacy and urgency in your writing. This is especially effective in news reporting or storytelling to draw the reader's attention to a recent event.

Common error

Avoid using "Moments ago" excessively in descriptive writing. Overuse can make the text repetitive and detract from the overall narrative flow. Consider varying your temporal references.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Moments ago" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate when an action or event occurred. As noted by Ludwig, it specifies a time very close to the present moment. It situates events in the immediate past, providing temporal context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Moments ago" is a common and grammatically sound temporal phrase used to indicate that something occurred very recently. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, especially in news and media. While highly frequent, it's important to avoid overuse in descriptive writing. Consider using alternatives like "just now" or "a short while ago" for variety. This phrase serves to emphasize the immediacy and relevance of an event, drawing the audience's attention to the recent past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Just now

Emphasizes the immediacy of the event, differing slightly in tone.

A short while ago

Slightly less precise, implying a slightly longer but still recent duration.

A few seconds ago

More specific and emphasizes the very short time that has passed.

A minute ago

Refers to a slightly longer, yet still recent, time frame.

In the last few moments

More descriptive, highlighting a span of very recent time.

Just a moment before

Emphasizes the temporal proximity to the present.

Seconds before

Specific, indicating an event occurred mere seconds before the present.

Right before this

Highlights the immediate sequence of events.

In recent moments

Highlights recency but with a slightly more formal tone.

Very recently

Focuses on the recency of the occurrence, differing in structure.

FAQs

How can I use "Moments ago" in a sentence?

"Moments ago" is typically used to describe an event that has just occurred. For example, "The announcement was made "moments ago", and the news is spreading quickly."

What can I say instead of "Moments ago"?

You can use alternatives like "just now", "a short while ago", or "very recently" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "Moment ago" instead of "Moments ago"?

No, "Moment ago" is grammatically incorrect. The plural form ""moments ago"" is the standard and accepted usage to indicate a short time in the past.

What's the difference between "Moments ago" and "Minutes ago"?

"Moments ago" implies a shorter time frame than "Minutes ago". "Moments ago" suggests something that happened almost immediately before the present, while "Minutes ago" indicates a slightly longer duration.