even recently

USAGE SUMMARY

"even recently" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate a contrast with a period of time that has already been referenced. For example: "He was a successful musician when he was younger, and even recently, he was asked to perform at a special event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Megite even recently took a swipe at TailRank based on recent Alexa stats, here.

TechCrunch

Republicanism has not always been this way, even recently.

The New York Times

NASA even recently invested in technology to print food.

The New York Times - Tech

Even recently reborn couch potatoes can enjoy that one.

The New York Times - Style

"I didn't understand this until many years later, even recently.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Supplies were such that the Marines even recently had to borrow a bulldozer from the Afghans.

The New York Times

Even as an adult, even recently — I hated the strings, the smell and the taste.

The New York Times - Magazine

(For a million dollars! A figure no one will confirm!) She was even recently on NPR.

The New York Times - Magazine

He added, "Atlanta is just not as hungry for growth as it was even recently".

The New York Times

There have been times, even recently, when his instinct has failed him.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

A BizTree document even recently walked him through the process of changing his firm's name.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "even recently" to highlight a contrast or unexpected occurrence in a timeframe closer to the present than previously mentioned. For example: "The company faced challenges for years, but "even recently", they secured a major contract."

Common error

Avoid using "even recently" when referring to events too far in the past. The phrase implies a very short time span. For example, saying 'Even recently, in the 1990s...' would be inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "even recently" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when something occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase. Examples show it emphasizing the proximity of an event to the present, often contrasting it with a previous state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

17%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "even recently" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase employed to emphasize the very near past, often highlighting a change or contrast. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it serves to strengthen the recency of an event and draw attention to its significance. The phrase is versatile enough for neutral contexts like news reporting, though also found in scientific and less formal content. While numerous sources demonstrate its appropriate use, be mindful to use it for timeframes truly close to the present, avoiding stretching it to distant past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just recently

Replaces "even" with "just", emphasizing the recency of the event.

very recently

Substitutes "even" with "very" to stress how recent the event was.

lately

A simpler, one-word alternative that conveys a similar meaning.

in the recent past

A more descriptive alternative that emphasizes that the event occurred not long ago.

in recent times

Uses a more formal structure to indicate a similar timeframe.

not long ago

A straightforward and easily understood alternative.

of late

A slightly more literary and less common way to say "recently".

in recent memory

Implies that the event is easily recalled because it happened recently.

in just the last few days

Specifies a very short timeframe.

as of late

A slightly more formal and less common way to say "lately".

FAQs

How can I use "even recently" in a sentence?

Use "even recently" to emphasize that something has happened in the very near past, especially when it contrasts with a previous situation or expectation. For example: "The team struggled for years, but "even recently", they won a major championship."

What's a good alternative to "even recently"?

Alternatives include "just recently", "very recently", or "lately" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "even recently"?

While "recently" already implies a short time ago, adding "even" can strengthen the emphasis on how near in time the event occurred, and it may highlight a contrast with a previous state. Therefore, it is not necessarily redundant, but rather a way to add emphasis.

What is the difference between "even recently" and "recently"?

"Recently" simply indicates that something happened not long ago. "Even recently" emphasizes that something happened very close to the present moment, often in contrast to a previous state or expectation. It adds a layer of surprise or emphasis compared to just saying "recently".