but until lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but until lately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a change in circumstances or situations that have occurred recently. Example: "I was unaware of the issue, but until lately, I had no reason to doubt the project's progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But, until lately, in each new cycle the springs were seeming warmer and the freezes not quite so harsh.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Meantime, even as the U.S. pulled up its drawbridge to many foreigners after the Sept. 11 attacks, its dollar was the standard for Panama, which (until lately, at least) has found the currency bulwark an additional attraction for some of those same itinerants.

Forbes

That movie is "The Room," which has gone all but unnoticed on the East Coast until lately but developed a West Coast following after its sickly 2003 release.

The New York Times - Books

There's been a narrow focus on track racing until lately but, with the arrival of a women's Tour of Britain and the involvement of the Tour organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation, in more UK races, I think we can expect to see more female competitors out on the road and not just limited to places with a velodrome.

The Guardian - Sport

And the chip business is distinctive for Philips in another way: This prominent brand (everywhere but in the U.S., until lately) is making products to be sold inside other manufacturers' boxes.

Forbes

Amazon acquired Twitch back in 2014 for over a billion dollars, but the gaming site has operated relatively independently until lately.

TechCrunch

Until lately the printed book changed more frequently, but less creatively, than any other medium.

The New York Times - Books

Until lately, he had never taken a riding lesson, but he has begun learning maneuvers specific to cow-horse competitions — contests that feature the ability of a horse and rider to do ranch work.

The New Yorker

It is more appropriate to consider its development as a rate process but the time-response has been very difficult to measure accurately until lately.

Journal of Food Engineering

But the truth is that relatively few CEOs have understood, at least until lately, the crucial importance of this principle.

Forbes

But sexism, it seems, has also contributed to Genzken's relative obscurity, at least until lately.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but until lately" to introduce a recent change or shift in circumstances, creating a contrast with a previous situation. It is useful for highlighting developments or alterations that have occurred in a relatively short time frame.

Common error

Avoid using "but until later" when you mean "but until lately". "Later" refers to a point in the future, while "lately" refers to the recent past. The incorrect usage can confuse the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but until lately" functions as an adversative conjunction, introducing a contrast or exception to a previously stated condition or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. This phrase sets up a temporal boundary, indicating that a change has occurred recently.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but until lately" serves as a versatile adversative conjunction used to introduce a recent change or contrast to a previous state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse sources such as news, science, and business. It's crucial to remember the distinction between "lately" and "later" to avoid miscommunication. Alternatives such as "but until recently" or "but previously" can provide subtle nuances in meaning. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal writing, offering a valuable tool for conveying temporal shifts in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but until recently

Replaces "lately" with "recently", indicating a time frame closer to the present.

however, until lately

Adds a stronger contrast using "however" to emphasize the change.

but up until now

Emphasizes the shift from a previous state to the present moment.

yet until lately

Uses "yet" to introduce a contrasting element related to the recent past.

but previously

Highlights a contrast with a past situation or condition.

but in recent times

Indicates that the change happened within the past few years or months.

but formerly

Indicates a situation that existed in the past but is no longer the case.

but in recent years

Implies a change that has unfolded over the course of several years.

but in the past

Simple way to state that something was different before.

but not anymore

Directly states that a past condition has ceased.

FAQs

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

Use "but until lately" to contrast a past situation with a recent change. For example, "The company had been struggling, but until lately, profits have been steadily increasing".

What are some alternatives to "but until lately"?

You can use alternatives like "but until recently", "but up until now", or "but previously" depending on the context.

Is "but until lately" formal or informal?

"But until lately" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives.

What's the difference between "but until lately" and "but until recently"?

The phrases "but until lately" and "but until recently" are nearly interchangeable. "Recently" might suggest an even shorter time frame than "lately", but the difference is subtle.