a lot lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lot lately" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used to describe an increase in something recently. For example, "I have been eating a lot lately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

People have been fainting a lot lately.

The New Yorker

I've heard that a lot lately.

The New York Times - Science

"These guys haven't pitched a lot lately".

The New York Times - Sports

She's been saying that a lot lately.

The New York Times - Style

"I had been working a lot lately".

The New York Times - Magazine

Yes, but not a lot lately.

The Guardian

I've been travelling a lot lately.

The New Yorker

The term "food crisis" is being used a lot lately.

University of California, Berkeley

I've also been nauseous a lot lately, and vomiting some.

Columbia University

Concussions have been in the news a lot lately.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I thought about it a lot lately.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lot lately" to indicate a noticeable increase in the frequency or intensity of something in the recent past. For example, "I've been thinking about this "a lot lately" because of recent events."

Common error

Avoid using "a lot lately" to describe future events. It is best suited for describing trends or occurrences that have already been observed. Instead of saying "I will be working "a lot lately"", consider "I will be working a lot more in the coming weeks."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lot lately" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating that the action or state it modifies has occurred with increased frequency in recent times. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lot lately" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate an increase in frequency or intensity of an action or state in recent times. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's important to use it appropriately, avoiding future tenses and considering more formal alternatives for certain writing styles. The phrase effectively communicates a recent shift, adding a temporal dimension to the description. Remember that while generally considered acceptable, more precise alternatives can enhance formality in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great deal recently

Uses "a great deal" as a synonym for "a lot", maintaining the same meaning but with a different phrasing.

often in recent days

Similar to "a lot lately" but uses "often" to highlight the frequency and "recent days" to specify the timeframe.

frequently in recent times

Emphasizes the increase in frequency and specifies that it's within recent times.

much more frequently now

Directly states the increase in frequency and specifies that it is happening "now".

more so in recent weeks

Highlights the 'more' aspect and uses "recent weeks" to define the timeframe.

considerably more recently

Focuses on the 'more' aspect, suggesting a noticeable increase in frequency recently.

more commonly these days

Indicates that something is happening more commonly in current times, suggesting a shift in trend.

increasingly in recent periods

Uses "increasingly" to emphasize the ongoing nature of the change and "recent periods" for timeframe.

noticeably more of late

Highlights the noticeable aspect of the increase, using a slightly more formal tone.

significantly more as of late

Similar to the previous example but emphasizes the significance of the increase.

FAQs

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

You can use "a lot lately" to describe something that has increased in frequency or intensity recently. For example, "The term 'supply chain' has been used "a lot lately" in news reports".

What are some alternatives to saying "a lot lately"?

Alternatives to "a lot lately" include phrases like "frequently in recent times", "often in recent days", or "a great deal recently", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "a lot lately" in formal writing?

While "a lot lately" is generally acceptable, it might be more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives such as "considerably more recently" or "significantly more as of late".

What's the difference between "a lot lately" and "a lot often"?

"A lot lately" implies an increase in frequency in the recent past, while "a lot often" suggests that something generally happens frequently. For example, "I've been reading "a lot lately"" means I've increased my reading recently, whereas "I read "a lot often"" suggests I'm generally a frequent reader.