Until lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Until lately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period up to the recent past, indicating that something has changed or is no longer the case. Example: "Until lately, I believed that the project would be completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Until lately, Guzmán had taken that approach.

The New Yorker

Until lately, I hadn't been a fan of okra.

The New York Times

Until lately, the reasons for this were obvious enough.

The New York Times

Until lately, Prada insisted art and fashion were distinct enterprises.

The New York Times - Magazine

Until lately the printed book changed more frequently, but less creatively, than any other medium.

The New York Times - Books

Until lately, New Yorkers tended to save the shorts and T-shirts for the beach.

The New York Times

Until lately, this man paid good money to a vet to have his dog clipped & didn't save the clippings.

The New Yorker

Until lately, this city, like Baltimore and Washington, had been resisting some of the national drop in crime.

The New York Times

Until lately, the United States seemed to have Beijing on the defensive, with evidence that Chinese military units were behind recent computer attacks.

The New York Times

Until lately he charged $60 for a tour, more than four times the price of a ticket to the Topkapi Palace.

The New York Times - Arts

Until lately, he had talked about how most of his former assistants were established with other teams and therefore were unavailable.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Until lately" to introduce a contrast between a past situation and the current one, indicating a recent change. For instance, "Until lately, the company focused on domestic markets, but now it's expanding internationally."

Common error

Avoid using "Until lately" when you mean "latterly", which means "at a later time". "Until lately" always refers to a change from the recent past to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Until lately" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a timeframe leading up to the present. It introduces a contrast between a past state and the current situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Until lately" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates a change from the recent past to the present. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. It is commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, and serves to highlight temporal shifts. While alternatives like "until recently" exist, "Until lately" maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. Be mindful not to confuse it with "latterly", which has a distinct meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Until recently

This alternative is a more common and slightly more formal way to express the same idea.

Up until now

This alternative emphasizes the present moment as the point of change.

Previously

This alternative is shorter and focuses on the past situation.

Before now

This alternative highlights the contrast between the past and present.

In the past

This alternative is a more general way to refer to a time before the present.

Not long ago

This alternative emphasizes the recent nature of the change.

Until this point

This alternative is more formal and specific.

Hitherto

This alternative is archaic and very formal.

Formerly

This alternative focuses on a previous state or role.

Of late

This alternative is slightly more literary and less common.

FAQs

How can I use "Until lately" in a sentence?

Use "Until lately" to indicate that something was true in the recent past but is no longer the case. For example, "Until lately, I thought the project would be completed on time".

What are some alternatives to "Until lately"?

You can use alternatives like "until recently", "up until now", or "previously" depending on the context.

Is "Until lately" formal or informal?

"Until lately" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although "until recently" might be preferred in more formal writing.

What's the difference between "Until lately" and "latterly"?

"Until lately" refers to a period up to the recent past, implying a change, whereas "latterly" simply means "at a later time" or "recently" without necessarily implying a change. For example, "He latterly became involved in politics" doesn't suggest a change from a previous state.