especially lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "especially lately" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a particular situation or trend that has become more pronounced in recent times. Example: "I've noticed a significant increase in online shopping, especially lately, as more people prefer the convenience of home delivery."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He enjoyed some success, especially lately.

The New York Times

I mostly avoid information and discussion of guns, especially lately.

Harvard University

Chamberlain has been dominant this season, especially lately.

The New York Times - Sports

But that's not all they are, especially lately.

The New York Times - Magazine

Life moves us in enough unexpected directions, especially lately.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It's been actually pretty difficult, you know, especially lately," Bradley said.

The New York Times - Sports

I always do, though, and it's always a welcome sight, especially lately.

The New Yorker

"Especially lately, I've been looking back, wondering what it's all about," he told me.

The New Yorker

Other times, especially lately, they looked to be a national title contender.

The New York Times - Sports

Those he hires do not tend to last long, especially lately.

The New York Times - Sports

The dynamic with USA Cycling can be awkward, but so far, especially lately, it has worked.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "especially lately", consider whether specifying a timeframe (e.g., "especially in the past few months") would provide more clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "especially lately" in contexts where the recency is already implied or obvious. Overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "especially lately" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate a time frame. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it specifies that a situation or trend is particularly noticeable or has intensified in recent times, adding emphasis to the recency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "especially lately" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that emphasizes the recency and intensification of a situation or trend. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's generally appropriate for a neutral register, appearing most often in news and media contexts. While versatile, careful usage can maximize its impact, avoiding redundancy and ensuring clear communication. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "particularly of late" or "more recently" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly of late

Replaces "especially" with "particularly" and "lately" with "of late", maintaining the sense of recent emphasis.

of late in particular

Reorders and restructures the words while retaining a similar meaning.

lately in particular

Uses "lately" as the primary descriptor, followed by the emphasis of "in particular".

especially in recent months

Specifies the timeframe to "recent months" for more precision.

increasingly recently

Highlights the increasing trend with "increasingly" combined with "recently".

more recently

Focuses on the recency aspect, omitting the intensifying "especially".

more so recently

Highlights a recent increase in the degree or extent of something.

in recent times

Emphasizes the timeframe being "recent times" instead of "lately".

notably in recent weeks

Specifies the timeframe to "recent weeks" and uses "notably" to highlight the emphasis.

particularly in the last few years

Expands the timeframe to "the last few years" for a broader scope.

FAQs

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

Use "especially lately" to emphasize that something has become more noticeable or frequent in recent times. For example, "I've been feeling tired, "especially lately", due to the increased workload."

What are some alternatives to "especially lately"?

Alternatives include "particularly of late", "more recently", or "in recent times" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "especially lately" formal or informal?

"Especially lately" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic writing.

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

"Recently" simply indicates something happened not long ago. "Especially lately" emphasizes that something has become more pronounced or frequent in the very recent past, adding a sense of intensification to the timeframe.