done so recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "done so recently" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an action that has been completed in the near past. Example: "I have completed the project, but I haven't done so recently enough to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

He has not done so recently.

The New York Times - Sports

And though he hasn't done so recently, he can score.

The Guardian - Sport

Westbrook sent pictures of his outfits via Instagram before games early in these playoffs, but has not done so recently.

The New York Times - Sports

Even some methods professors have never set foot in a classroom or have not done so recently.

The New York Times - Magazine

They were asked the last time they took public transportation, and they all claimed to have done so recently.

The New York Times

Although China has often released dissidents on the eve of major political visits, it has not done so recently.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The Pentagon says it is currently conducting no work on incapacitating chemicals, but the record suggests it did so recently.

The New York Times

She did so recently in San Francisco as the celestial visitor to 13th-century Assisi in Messiaen's opera "St.

The New York Times - Arts

Texas is also challenging the constitutionality of the law in the voter ID case, one of a handful of states to do so recently, including Florida and Alaska.

The New York Times

Mr. Pandit said Citigroup had not raised rates for two years, and only did so recently because its cost of financing had gone up.

The New York Times

He did so recently by withdrawing from the Paris climate accord; he did so again by tweeting a shift in policy vis-à-vis Qatar, which further roiled the Middle East and undermined his own Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about activities, use "done so recently" to make an explicit comparison to the present time and draw attention to the period that has transpired between the action and current moment.

Common error

Avoid using "done so recently" in very informal settings. Simpler alternatives like "lately" or "recently" often sound more natural in casual conversation or writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "done so recently" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or verb phrase. It indicates that an action has been completed but not in the immediate present. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "done so recently" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that an action was completed in the near past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it is also found in scientific and wiki sources. When writing, remember that while acceptable for most purposes, simpler alternatives may be preferred in informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

done lately

This alternative provides a more concise and informal way of saying "done so recently".

completed recently

This alternative replaces the 'so' with 'completed' for a more direct phrasing.

occurred recently

This changes the focus to the occurrence of an event, rather than the action of doing.

happened lately

Similar to 'occurred recently', but more informal.

transpired recently

This is a more formal and less common alternative.

took place recently

This alternative emphasizes the event aspect.

finished just now

This suggests an action completed in the very immediate past.

concluded in the recent past

This is a more verbose and formal way of expressing the idea.

effected recently

This alternative suggests the action brought about a result or change.

realized recently

Implies something has been made real or understood, with "recently" indicating when this realization occurred.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "done so recently"?

You can use alternatives like "done lately", "completed recently", or "occurred recently" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "done so recently" or "recently done"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "done so recently" emphasizes the action and the time elapsed since, whereas "recently done" focuses more on the recent completion. The best choice depends on the intended emphasis.

What is the difference between "done so recently" and "done just now"?

"Done so recently" indicates an action completed in the near past, while "done just now" implies an action completed in the very immediate present. They differ in the recency of the action.

Can "done so recently" always be replaced with "lately"?

While "lately" can often substitute "done so recently", it may not always capture the same nuance. "Done so recently" emphasizes that the action was completed, but some time has passed since. "Lately" simply means 'in the recent past' without necessarily highlighting that contrast.