in recent days

USAGE SUMMARY

'in recent days' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a period of time that is either current or has just recently passed. For example: "In recent days, we have seen an uptick in positive coronavirus cases."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have been contradicted in recent days.

The Economist

We demonstrated that in recent days.

The New York Times

In recent days, Manning narrowed the field.

The New York Times - Sports

In recent days, the struggle intensified.

The New York Times

One battle emerged in recent days.

The New York Times

But that changed in recent days.

The New York Times

It has made gains in recent days.

Independent

In recent days.

The Washington Post

News of them emerged in recent days.

The New York Times

It has gotten worse in recent days.

The New York Times

He has suffered setbacks in recent days.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in recent days", ensure the context clearly indicates the timeframe you're referring to, as it can be subjective and depend on the situation. For example, "In recent days, the stock market has shown signs of recovery after a sharp decline."

Common error

Avoid using "in recent days" when referring to events that occurred several weeks or months ago. This phrase implies a shorter, more immediate timeframe. Instead, use alternatives like "in recent weeks" or "in the past few months" for longer periods.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in recent days" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the timeframe in which an action or event occurred. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its frequent use in news and media to provide temporal context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in recent days" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something has happened in the period just before the present. Ludwig shows that it is most frequently used in news and media contexts to provide a sense of recency. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides helpful examples. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the timeframe, and consider alternatives like "lately" or "recently" for brevity or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the past few days

This alternative explicitly states the timeframe as the days immediately preceding the present.

over the last few days

This alternative specifies the duration, indicating that the events occurred throughout the previous few days.

lately

This alternative is more concise, using a single word to convey the idea of a recent period.

recently

This alternative is a single word emphasizing the nearness in time to the present.

just recently

This alternative emphasizes the immediacy of the events.

in recent times

This alternative broadens the timeframe to include a more general recent period, not just days.

of late

This alternative offers a slightly more formal or archaic way to express recent occurrence.

as of late

This alternative offers a more emphatic way to say lately.

in the current climate

This alternative shifts the focus to the present circumstances.

in the present day

This alternative highlights a modern or current perspective.

FAQs

How can I use "in recent days" in a sentence?

You can use "in recent days" to indicate that something has happened shortly before the present. For example, "In recent days, the weather has been unpredictable".

What are some alternatives to "in recent days"?

Some alternatives include "lately", "recently", or "in the past few days" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "during recent days" instead of "in recent days"?

While "during recent days" is grammatically understandable, "in recent days" is more common and idiomatic. Using "in recent days" typically sounds more natural in most contexts.

What's the difference between "in recent days" and "in the last days"?

"In recent days" refers to a period immediately preceding the present, while "in the last days" can sometimes imply a more significant, often ominous, end-of-times scenario depending on the context.