Up until recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Up until recently" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time period that extends to the present or very near past, often to highlight a change that has occurred. Example: "Up until recently, the company had been experiencing steady growth, but now it faces new challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And since these stocks have been beaten up (until recently) they look like value plays.

Forbes

which up until recently controlled half of the portable graphic chipset market.

Forbes

That's because, up until recently, she's been known by another alias: Cortana Blue.

Vice

"Up until recently, there was nada in White Plains".

The New York Times

Up until recently, the notion of keeping a record for assists struck many purists as folly.

The New York Times

Up until recently, the news programs had defied gravity in holding up so well.

The New York Times

Up until recently, we've been looking only at the cultural basis of who we are".

The New Yorker

Up until recently, Tunisia had been considered a model of stability.

The New York Times

"Up until recently, we were not told it was wrong," said Kristin Ebert, 19.

The New York Times

Up until recently, every single person on my team was female.

The Guardian

Up until recently it was thought that only humans had a permanently descended larynx.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Up until recently" to highlight a change or shift in circumstances. It's effective when you want to contrast a previous state with the current one.

Common error

Avoid using "Up until recently" when the context already implies a recent timeframe. Redundancy weakens your writing. For example, avoid saying something like "Up until recently, in the last few weeks...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Up until recently" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a timeframe leading to the near present. It sets a temporal boundary, suggesting a shift or change has occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Up until recently" is a grammatically sound and very common adverbial phrase used to indicate that a situation was true until a short time ago. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's effective for highlighting changes or shifts in circumstances. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for a range of contexts, particularly in news, scientific writing, and formal communication. When using this phrase, be mindful of potential redundancy and ensure it adds value to your writing by clearly contrasting a previous state with the current one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Until recently

Omits the "up" for a slightly more concise version.

Until quite recently

Adds emphasis to the recentness of the change.

Until now

Focuses on the present moment as a turning point.

Formerly

Indicates a past state without specifying the duration.

Previously

Similar to 'formerly' but can also suggest a sequence of events.

In the past

A more general way to refer to a time before now.

Not long ago

Emphasizes the short time since the change occurred.

In recent times

Focuses on the general period leading up to now.

In the immediate past

Emphasizes the closeness of the past to the present.

Up to the present time

More formal and explicit about the time frame.

FAQs

What does "Up until recently" mean?

The phrase "Up until recently" means that something was true or the case until a short time ago. It indicates that a change has occurred.

How do I use "Up until recently" in a sentence?

You can use "Up until recently" to introduce a contrast between a past situation and the current one. For example, "Up until recently, the company focused on domestic sales."

What can I say instead of "Up until recently"?

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

Is it redundant to say "Up until recently, in the past few weeks"?

Yes, it is redundant. The phrase "Up until recently" already implies a short time ago, so adding "in the past few weeks" is unnecessary. Choose one or the other for clarity.