currently

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "currently" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is happening now, at the present time. For example: "Currently, I am taking a course on writing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trials of this idea are currently under way, one of which should report next year.

The Economist

We are currently in the process of interviewing potential board members, and our goal is to add an additional independent member this year in order to regain our 4-star rating by 2013.

The Guardian

The government is currently negotiating with unions over the tricky issue of retirement.

The New York Times

The same is true of refinancing at a different bank from the one that currently holds your mortgage, or trying to persuade a new bank to give you a business loan.

The Economist

Congress is currently considering a bill increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 over the next three years.

The Economist

Derided as a buffoonish figure of fun for attempting to keep dry while his England team failed to qualify for Euro 2008, McClaren is currently attracting far less media attention for steering Derby County to fourth from 14th in the Championship after a run of just two defeats in 15 matches since he replaced Nigel Clough in September.

The Guardian - Sport

When asked if he would read the currently unreleased pages into the congressional record, Paul demurred and said "we're going to try the normal legislative procedure first and see how that goes".

The Guardian

Breen, currently writing his personal story of life as a policeman during the conflict, said: "I had approached numerous RUC officers who were keen to leave a living record of what went on in their fight against terrorism over the years.

The Guardian

Often ostensibly secular and radically libertarian, for decades they have lobbied to turn public education – currently an $85bn federal operation – into an industrial complex.

The Guardian

It also clones your GitHub repo, and compares your merged pull request with the history of the commit that's currently on the site.

The Guardian

He stressed that the UK currently meets the Nato target, but said that spending levels after 2016 would be determined by a spending review.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "currently" to denote actions or states happening at the present time without implying permanence. For ongoing, long-term situations, consider alternatives like "generally" or "typically".

Common error

Avoid using "currently" when the present tense already implies the action is happening now. Instead of "I am currently working", simply say "I am working" unless emphasizing the present moment is crucial.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "currently" functions primarily as an adverb of time, specifying that an action or state is happening or is valid at the present moment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly and effectively places actions within the current timeframe.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "currently" serves to pinpoint actions and states to the present moment, as verified by Ludwig AI. It's a versatile term appropriate for a variety of contexts, though awareness of potential redundancy with present tenses is key. While highly frequent in sources like The Guardian, The Economist, and The New York Times, remember it's also effective to use synonyms like "at the moment" or "presently" to have variety in your writing. Its accurate and precise deployment is a hallmark of refined English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the moment

Focuses on the immediate present, adding a sense of immediacy compared to "currently".

at present

A more formal alternative, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

right now

Emphasizes the urgency or immediacy of the situation.

presently

A slightly more formal synonym, indicating a state existing in the current period.

as of now

Highlights a change or status that's effective from this specific point in time.

in the present circumstances

Highlights consideration of present conditions.

for the time being

Implies a temporary state, suggesting the situation might change.

as things stand

Indicates a situation based on the existing conditions, often with an implication of potential change.

in the current climate

Specifically refers to the prevailing conditions, often used in business or political contexts.

at this point in time

A more elaborate way of saying "currently", often used for emphasis or in formal speech.

FAQs

How do I use "currently" in a sentence?

Use "currently" to indicate that something is happening or is the case at the present time. For example, "I am "currently working" on a new project" or "The product is "currently available" in stores".

What words can I use instead of "currently"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "at present", "at the moment", or "now".

Is it redundant to use "currently" with the present continuous tense?

Sometimes, yes. The present continuous tense (e.g., "I am working") already implies the action is happening now. Adding "currently" can be redundant unless you want to emphasize that the action is happening specifically at this moment and might not be ongoing.

What's the difference between "currently" and "presently"?

While both indicate the present time, "currently" typically refers to something happening now, whereas "presently" can also mean "soon" or "in a little while". To avoid ambiguity, it's better to use "currently" when you mean "at the present time".