but not recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but not recently" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that some event happened in the past, but has not recently occurred. For example: "We used to eat lunch together every day, but not recently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

So yes, I have done it but not recently because haven't really been able to.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Rodriguez said his agent spoke to the Mets over the winter, but not recently.

The New York Times

He said he had seen the Williams children playing outside, but not recently.

The New York Times

A couple of times when I was getting bullied, but not recently.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Cameron has acknowledged that he met Coulson since his resignation, but "not recently and not frequently".

The Guardian

"I have won a lot in my career but not recently," Federer said after claiming his 77th title.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Good submissions may also remind the PL community of problems that were once in vogue but have not recently been seen in top PL conferences.

Princeton University

§ 2521.80 What matching level applies if my program was funded in the past but has not recently received an AmeriCorps grant?

Cornell University

Mr Newey was the brilliant boffin behind a long succession of wins by the Williams team in the early 1990s, but had not recently won with McLaren.

The Economist

Treatment discontinuation is one of the main reasons for the high tuberculosis rates, but has not recently been fully explored in Africa.

BMJ Open

HP said as recently as last year that it would launch the technology in late 2013, but it has not recently confirmed its plans.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but not recently" to clearly indicate a change in behavior, status, or occurrence, contrasting a past situation with the present.

Common error

Avoid using "but not recently" when the timeframe of the past action directly overlaps with the present. Ensure there's a clear distinction between when the action occurred and when it ceased.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but not recently" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase, modifying a clause by indicating a contrast between a past action or state and the present. Ludwig shows that this phrase connects two ideas, highlighting a change over time. Examples include "I have won a lot in my career but not recently" and "They have had some magnificent games... but not recently."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but not recently" is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction that adds a nuanced contrast to statements. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, with numerous examples demonstrating its use across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. The phrase effectively conveys that a past action or state is no longer current. To improve clarity, it is suggested that writers avoid using the expression when describing overlapping timeframes. Alternative phrases such as "not lately" or "not in recent times" can be used to achieve a similar effect. "But not recently" has a neutral register and is appropriate for many types of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not in recent times

Emphasizes the period of time that has passed since the last occurrence.

not lately

A more informal way of saying "not recently", implying a shorter period of time.

not in the immediate past

More formal and emphasizes the recency of the absence.

not in recent memory

Implies that the occurrence is not easily recalled due to its distance in the past.

not anymore

Indicates a complete cessation of the action or state, though broader than "not recently".

not these days

Highlights a change in current practice or circumstances.

not currently

Focuses on the present state, implying a potential for future change.

not for some time

Indicates an indefinite period of absence, longer than "not recently".

it's been a while

An idiomatic expression indicating a considerable lapse in time.

not in the last little while

An informal expression specifying a short period.

FAQs

How can I use "but not recently" in a sentence?

You can use "but not recently" to contrast a past action or state with the current situation. For example, "I used to go to the gym every day, but not recently because of my injury."

What are some alternatives to saying "but not recently"?

Alternatives include "not lately", "not in recent times", or "not in the immediate past". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it redundant to use "but not recently"?

While it may seem redundant, "but not recently" clarifies that a past action or state has ceased, providing a specific timeframe (or lack thereof) for the change.

What's the difference between "but not recently" and "but not anymore"?

"But not recently" implies a cessation of an action or state within a relatively short period. "But not anymore" suggests a more permanent or indefinite end to the action, and "but not anymore" does not necessarily point to the beginning of the gap in time like "but not recently" does.