as recent as

USAGE SUMMARY

"as recent as" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to contrast something that happened recently with something that happened further in the past. For example, "The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the global economy - losses in some sectors have been as recent as this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The dates on some of the files are as recent as 2016.

The New Yorker

Her last appearance at a writers' conference was as recent as last October.

The Guardian - Books

Some of these people are still racked by their loss, which is as recent as yesterday.

The New York Times

Not only for that reason, though, nor is worry as recent as wildlife-lovers may suppose.

The Economist

Its relentlessless arguably underlies the work of a writer as recent as the British China Miéville.

Independent

Kishtwar's history of religious polarization is as recent as the eruption of the militancy.

The New York Times

By comparison, even an Olympics as recent as Athens feels a little like an old episode of "Bonanza".

The New York Times

It's another thing entirely if you aren't rebuilding, though: Chicago were pegged as the title favorites as recent as January.

The Guardian - Sport

Areas devastated by avalanches, some as recent as the past winter, broke the continuity of the trail.

The New York Times

But the videos carried dates, and these were as recent as mid-August 2004, just three weeks earlier.

MIT Technology Review

There are also commentaries in French and English on affairs of the region as recent as 1946.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as recent as" to emphasize a surprising or noteworthy fact, highlighting how recently something occurred to counter assumptions of it being distant.

Common error

Avoid using "as recent as" when the surrounding context already clearly indicates a recent timeframe; redundancy weakens the impact. For example, don't say "As recent as yesterday, she said yesterday", instead simply say "As recent as yesterday, she said."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as recent as" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying a time frame that is surprisingly close to the present moment. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its extensive examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

26%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as recent as" is a versatile phrase used to highlight the surprising recency of an event or piece of information. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific writing. While it is generally considered neutral in tone, it leans towards professional use. When using this phrase, remember to avoid redundancy and ensure the context warrants emphasizing the recency. Alternatives like "as recently as" or "just recently" can be used to adjust the nuance. Overall, "as recent as" is a valuable tool for effective communication when you need to underscore the nearness of something in time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as recently as

Focuses on the adverbial aspect, emphasizing the action or event occurred not long ago.

just recently

Emphasizes the immediacy of the event, using a more informal tone.

in recent times

Highlights a period, rather than a specific point, close to the present.

in current times

Highlights a period, rather than a specific point, close to the present, employing different vocabulary.

in the recent past

Similar to "in recent times" but slightly more formal.

only a short time ago

Focuses on the duration, indicating a brief period has passed.

up until now

Indicates continuity until the present moment.

until now

Like "up until now" but can also imply a change.

of late

A more formal way to say recently.

in this day and age

Focuses on the current era and the events and actions that are typical or remarkable of it.

FAQs

How can I use "as recent as" in a sentence?

Use "as recent as" to indicate that something happened surprisingly close to the present time. For example, "As recent as last week, the company announced record profits."

What are some alternatives to "as recent as"?

Some alternatives include "as recently as", "just recently", or "only a short time ago", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "as recent as" with another time reference?

Yes, it can be redundant if the context already implies recency. Avoid saying "As recent as yesterday, she said yesterday". Instead, simplify it to "As recent as yesterday, she said".

What's the difference between "as recent as" and ""as recently as""?

"As recent as" emphasizes a specific point in time, while ""as recently as"" emphasizes the action or event's occurrence in close proximity to the present. For example, "As recent as 2024, the law was still in effect" versus "As recently as yesterday, she completed the project".