it was only recently

USAGE SUMMARY

'it was only recently' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a moment relative to the present time, often to indicate that something happened not long ago. For example: "It was only recently that I realized how much I miss living close to my friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"It was only recently that our real suffering began".

The New Yorker

"It was only recently it became a goal".

The Guardian - Sport

Maybe it was only recently that I truly grasped it.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it was only recently that she was able to look at them properly.

The Guardian

"It was only recently that our real suffering began," he said.

The New Yorker

It was only recently that the couple had started sleeping in the front bedroom.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

It's only recently been reclaimed from its status as an epithet.

Huffington Post

It's only recently that I feel I own it.

Harvard Business Review

It's only recently that he's unified his dual life.

Stanford University

It is only recently, however, that he noticed that supremely camouflaged octopuses were pretty common there.

Harvard University

It is only recently that researchers have been modelling uncertainty and multi-period issues.

European Journal of Operational Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was only recently" to emphasize the novelty or surprise of a realization, discovery, or change. It's particularly effective when contrasting a past state with the present.

Common error

Avoid using "it was only recently" when referring to events that occurred many years ago. This phrase implies a short time span, so ensure it aligns with the actual timeframe you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was only recently" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the temporal proximity of an event or realization. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately conveys that something has happened not long ago. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was only recently" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to indicate that something happened or became known in the near past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and commonly used. It appears across various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing, and serves to emphasize the novelty or immediacy of an event or realization. When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with the actual timeframe and avoid using it for distant past events. Alternatives such as "just recently" or "not long ago" can provide similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just recently

Changes the structure while keeping the temporal proximity aspect.

only just now

Emphasizes the immediacy of the event.

not long ago

Uses a more general term to indicate a short time.

in recent times

Formal alternative, suitable for more formal contexts.

in the recent past

Similar to "in recent times", but slightly more specific.

just a short while ago

Adds a sense of informality and conversational tone.

in just the last few days

Refers to things in the past few days. More specific in timeframe.

it has only just happened

Emphasizes that the change/action is very recent, focusing on completion.

as of late

Formal alternative that means "lately" or "recently".

until quite recently

Focuses on the time leading up to the present.

FAQs

How can I use "it was only recently" in a sentence?

Use "it was only recently" to indicate that something has happened or become known in the near past. For example, "It was only recently that I discovered the joys of hiking."

What can I say instead of "it was only recently"?

You can use alternatives like "just recently", "not long ago", or "in recent times" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "it was only recently" or "it was recently"?

"It was only recently" emphasizes that something happened very close to the present moment and is typically used for impactful changes or discoveries. "It was recently" is less emphatic but also grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "it was only recently" and "until recently"?

"It was only recently" indicates the beginning of a new state or realization, while "until recently" implies a state that persisted until a short time ago. For example, "It was only recently that I started drinking coffee" versus "Until recently, I disliked coffee."