but lately

USAGE SUMMARY

"but lately" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is most often used to indicate that a situation has recently changed. For example: I had been eating healthy for a long time, but lately I haven't been able to stick to my diet.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But lately that's changed.

The New York Times - Arts

But lately, it's a tossup.

The New York Times - Food

But lately business has slowed.

The Economist

But lately, it doesn't.

The New Yorker

But lately the traders have decoupled.

The Economist

But lately his offense had been nonexistent.

The New York Times

But lately retreat has turned to rout.

The Economist

But, lately, they've abdicated or worse.

The New York Times

But lately the game has changed.

The New York Times

But lately there's been some inversion.

The New Yorker

But lately things have gone quiet.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but lately" to introduce a contrast or change from a previous state or behavior. It's effective for indicating a shift in trends, personal habits, or circumstances.

Common error

Avoid starting a sentence solely with "but lately". It's best used to connect a contrasting idea to a previous statement. For example, instead of "But lately. The weather has been terrible.", write "The weather used to be nice, but lately, it has been terrible."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but lately" functions as an adverbial connector. It links two contrasting ideas, indicating a change or shift in circumstances over a recent period. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature, demonstrated through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but lately" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to introduce a contrast or change in circumstances, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is considered grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, it may be substituted with more formal alternatives in certain settings. When using "but lately", ensure it connects two contrasting ideas effectively and avoid starting sentences solely with the phrase. By considering these guidelines, writers can use "but lately" effectively to add nuance and clarity to their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but recently

Indicates a change or new development that has occurred in the near past.

but the situation has shifted lately

Highlights that the overall circumstances have altered.

but in recent times

Emphasizes that the change has happened within the current era or period.

but things have changed recently

A more explicit way of stating that a change has occurred.

but of late

A more formal or literary way to express that something has changed recently.

but as of late

Similar to "of late", but slightly more emphatic.

but in the past few weeks

Specifies a shorter timeframe for the change.

but in recent months

Refers to changes that have unfolded over the course of several months.

but in recent days

Highlights that the change is very recent, almost immediate.

but in the latest development

Focuses on the most current event or change.

FAQs

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

Use "but lately" to introduce a contrast or change from a previous state. For example: "I used to enjoy going to the gym, "but lately" I've been too tired."

What's a simple way to rephrase "but lately"?

You can replace "but lately" with alternatives like "but recently", "but in recent times", or "but of late" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "but lately"?

While grammatically acceptable in some contexts, starting a sentence solely with "but lately" can sound abrupt. It's generally better to connect it to a previous clause. A better approach would be something like: "Things were good, "but lately" things have turned bad".

What is the difference between "but lately" and "but recently"?

Both "but lately" and "but recently" indicate a change in the near past. However, ""but lately"" can sometimes imply a more gradual or prolonged shift compared to the more immediate connotation of "but recently".