a bit recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a bit recently" is not correct and does not sound natural in written English.
It is not typically used because "a bit" and "recently" do not logically combine to convey a clear meaning. Example: "I have been feeling a bit recently about the changes in the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I'd been thinking about Robin Williams a bit recently.

The Guardian - Opinion

One bus company, it seemed, had been crashing quite a bit recently.

The New York Times

Islam says the pound has actually gone up a bit recently.

The Guardian

"Ruba's house was kind of shot up a bit recently," she said.

The New York Times

Manchester is a city I've got to know a bit recently.

The Guardian

In my previous post, I pointed out that fees have fallen a bit recently, particularly those charged by newer funds.

The New Yorker

Although it has ticked up a bit recently, the United States dollar did not have a particularly good 2009.

The New York Times

The location of potential packages broadened a bit recently with the addition of six cities to LivingSocial's growing empire.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

True, the western response solidified recently, albeit a bit late.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now the dollar, of course, has been in the news a lot for having fallen so much, although it has recovered a little bit recently.

Forbes

Former Apprentice contestant Katie Hopkins has been in the news a fair bit recently.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, substitute "a bit recently" with more grammatically sound alternatives like "somewhat recently" or "a little while ago" to enhance the quality and precision of your writing.

Common error

Avoid combining "a bit" directly with "recently" as it creates an unnatural expression. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives that maintain grammatical correctness and improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a bit recently" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify the timing and degree of an action or state. However, Ludwig AI considers it grammatically questionable, advising against its usage in favor of more standard alternatives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a bit recently" appears frequently in news and media sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The phrase attempts to modify the timing and degree of an action but is better replaced with options like "somewhat recently", "slightly recently", or "a little while ago". These alternatives offer improved clarity and precision, making them more suitable for formal writing. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid "a bit recently" to maintain grammatical correctness and enhance readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat recently

Replaces "a bit" with a single word indicating a moderate degree, improving grammatical flow.

slightly recently

Uses "slightly" instead of "a bit" to denote a small degree of change or occurrence in recent time.

a little while ago

Emphasizes the temporal aspect by specifying a short duration in the past.

in recent times

Focuses on a period of time, replacing "a bit" to highlight the recency of the events.

not long ago

Indicates that something happened in the near past, differing slightly in tone from the original.

just recently

Adds emphasis on the immediate past, making the timeframe more specific.

a short time ago

Similar to "a little while ago", specifies a brief period in the past.

of late

A more formal way of saying "recently", changing the register of the sentence.

in the past few weeks

Provides a more specific timeframe, making the recency more concrete.

as of late

Similar to "of late", this phrase conveys recent occurrence with a touch of formality.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "a bit recently"?

The phrase "a bit recently" is considered awkward and grammatically questionable. It's better to use alternatives like "somewhat recently" or "a little while ago".

How can I use "a bit recently" correctly?

While not strictly correct, if you intend to convey something happened somewhat in the recent past, it is better to replace it with more common and grammatically correct alternatives like "slightly recently" or "just recently".

What can I say instead of "a bit recently" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "of late" or "in recent times", which convey recency with a touch of sophistication.

Is there a difference between "a bit recently" and "a little recently"?

Both phrases are similar, but neither is considered grammatically ideal. It's preferable to use alternatives like "a little while ago" or "somewhat recently" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.