most lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "most lately" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to something that recently happened or took place. For example, "Most lately, I've been learning Spanish in my free time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

So is the piece that, for whatever reason, has resonated with me the most lately: "Winter Light," from 2008.

The New Yorker

But he didn't mention the one that had been bothering him the most lately: Was he a failure?

The Washington Post

But for all her 9-year-old wants, what interests me most lately is what Gillian doesn't want.

The New York Times

"People want their legs and butts to look their best," said Kate Albarelli, the creator of Figure 4. "It's the complaint I've been hearing the most lately.

The New York Times

But the political issue that has troubled him the most lately is the war in Iraq, which, he said, is hypocritical.

The New York Times

Although Mr Ghosn is on Sony's board, Sir Howard says that the outside director with whom he has talked the most lately is Yotaro Kobayashi, the well-regarded chairman of Fuji Xerox.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Heroin has been in the news a lot lately, most recently because of the death, apparently by overdose, of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.

The Washington Post

Vivendi's fortunes have taken repeated blows lately, most recently yesterday, when the Standard & Poor's debt-rating agency cut the company's credit rating.

The New York Times

Google has come under fire lately, most recently by German chancellor Angela Merkel, because it keeps its algorithm secret.

Forbes

The most outspoken lately is Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat.

The New York Times

The one that seemed to be drumming up the most interest lately is called the Elevation Dock.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "most lately" to clearly indicate the most recent event or action within a sequence. Ensure that the context makes it clear what the sequence of events is.

Common error

Avoid using "most lately" when "most recently" is more appropriate. "Most recently" emphasizes temporal proximity, while "most lately" implies a final item in a sequence. Using the former in place of the latter is incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most lately" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the time frame or order of an event or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and used to indicate recency, particularly as the final point in a sequence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "most lately" is a grammatically correct way to indicate the final and most recent event in a sequence. As Ludwig AI also indicates, while acceptable, it's essential to consider the context and purpose of your writing. If you need to indicate only a temporal meaning you can replace it with "most recently". The phrase sees common usage in the News & Media and Science contexts, appearing in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. Understanding its nuances will help you use it effectively in your writing, avoiding potential confusion with phrases like "most recently".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most recently

Emphasizes the temporal recency of an event or action.

just recently

Similar to most recently, but with a stronger emphasis on the very immediate past.

latterly

A more formal synonym indicating a recent time.

of late

Indicates something happening recently, often implying a change.

as of late

Similar to "of late", focusing on the recent occurrence.

in recent times

Highlights the period when something occurred.

in recent days

More specific, referring to the past few days.

in the last while

Informal way of indicating the recent past.

up until now

Highlights the period leading to the present moment.

in this last period

Highlights the recent span of time.

FAQs

How is "most lately" different from "most recently"?

"Most lately" implies that something is the final item in a sequence, whereas "most recently" simply means the most recent occurrence. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing the sequential aspect or just the timing.

Can I use "most lately" to describe a single, isolated event?

While grammatically correct, using "most lately" to describe a single isolated event might sound awkward. "Most recently" or another alternative would likely be a better fit in that scenario.

What are some alternatives to "most lately" in formal writing?

In formal contexts, you can consider using "latterly" or "most recently" as suitable alternatives to "most lately."

Is "most lately" commonly used in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "most lately" is more common in written English than in everyday spoken English. In conversation, phrases like "recently" or "lately" are generally preferred.