as recently as

USAGE SUMMARY

'as recently as' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a recent event or action in comparison to other events or actions in the past. For example: "He had a great success as recently as last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

As recently as Jan.

The New York Times - Sports

As recently as 2010, it was 10.4 percent.

The New York Times

As recently as last November.

The New Yorker

As recently as March, all had declined.

The New York Times

He did it as recently as Monday.

The New Yorker

But Bloch has refused as recently as Nov. 14.

The Washington Post

The Senators had won the pennant as recently as 1933.

The Washington Post

It won the World Series as recently as 1991.

The New York Times - Sports

He joined Al Qaeda as recently as 1998.

The New York Times

As recently as 2005, sales hit 17 million.

The New York Times

The briefing cited threats logged as recently as May 2001.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as recently as", ensure the timeframe you are referencing is genuinely recent in the context you're providing for the reader to enhance clarity and impact. In other words, what is recent in science could be very different than what's recent in daily news.

Common error

Avoid using "as recently as" with vague time references (e.g., "as recently as a while ago"). Provide a specific date or timeframe to maintain clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as recently as" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the time frame of an event or situation. As Ludwig AI also suggests, it provides a temporal anchor, highlighting the recency of something in relation to the present moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as recently as" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to emphasize the nearness of a past event to the present. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s grammatically sound and suitable for many contexts, particularly news and formal writing. When employing this phrase, clarity is key; provide specific timeframes to maximize impact. While alternatives like "just recently" or "not long ago" exist, "as recently as" is particularly effective when highlighting a contrast between the past and present. Remember, the timeframe should genuinely be recent to maintain credibility and relevance in the communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just recently

Emphasizes the short time span since the event occurred, with a stronger focus on 'just'.

very recently

Highlights the recency of the event, adding intensity with the word 'very'.

in recent times

Refers to a period close to the present, rather than a specific point in time.

not long ago

A more general way of indicating that something happened in the near past.

in the recent past

Similar to 'in recent times', but perhaps slightly more formal.

of late

A slightly more old-fashioned way of saying 'recently'.

in the last few days

More specific, restricting the timeframe to just a few days.

in the past few weeks

Broadens the timeframe to a few weeks.

in the current year

Focuses on the current year, implying the event happened within it.

up until now

Implies something has been happening continuously until the present moment.

FAQs

How do I use "as recently as" in a sentence?

"As recently as" is used to indicate that something happened not long ago, especially when contrasting it with a current situation. For example, "As recently as last year, the company was struggling, but now it's thriving".

What are some alternatives to "as recently as"?

Alternatives include "just recently", "very recently", or "not long ago". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "as recently as" or "recently"?

"As recently as" is useful when you want to emphasize how close something is to the present, often in contrast to something else. "Recently" is a more general term. The choice depends on whether you need to highlight that contrast.

Can "as recently as" be used for events in the distant past?

No, "as recently as" should only be used for events that occurred in the near past, relative to the context. Using it for distant events would be misleading.