not long ago

USAGE SUMMARY

"not long ago" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened recently, but not in the very immediate past. For example: "I was in Rome not long ago and it was absolutely beautiful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not long ago 'Aug.

The New Yorker

not long ago.

The New Yorker

Not long ago, an N.G.O.

The New Yorker

Not long ago, the Berlin d.j.j

The New Yorker

I saw my father not long ago.

The New Yorker

Not long ago, she saw it again.

The New Yorker

Not long ago, an additional… 1.

The New Yorker

Not Long Ago.

The New York Times

Not long ago, I called my mother.

The New York Times - Magazine

NOT long ago, Bagehot had a baby.

The Economist

Not long ago.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not long ago" to introduce a situation that provides context for a current state or decision. It helps to establish a sense of change or contrast over a relatively short period.

Common error

Avoid using "not long ago" when referring to events that occurred several years in the past. It's best suited for events within recent memory, typically within the last few months or years. For more distant events, consider using phrases like "many years ago" or "in the distant past".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not long ago" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the time when an action occurred. It specifies that the event took place in the recent past. Ludwig confirms its common and correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not long ago" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate an event occurred in the recent past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the timeframe is indeed recent and not confused with the distant past. For alternative phrasing, consider words like "recently" or "lately", depending on the desired level of formality. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for a wide array of communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not long since

Replaces "ago" with "since", maintaining a similar structure and meaning.

Just recently

Adds emphasis to the recency of the event using "just".

Recently

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adverb indicating the event occurred in the near past.

A short while ago

Uses "while" instead of "long" offering a slightly different phrasing.

Lately

Substitutes the phrase with a simple adverb denoting a period close to the present.

In the recent past

Offers a slightly more descriptive alternative emphasizing the recency of the event.

In the immediate past

Similar to "in the recent past" but emphasizes closeness of the event.

In recent times

Replaces the phrase with a more formal and emphatic expression of recent events.

In the last few days

Replaces the general timeframe with a specific period.

In recent weeks

Specifies the recent timeframe as within the past few weeks.

FAQs

How can I use "not long ago" in a sentence?

You can use "not long ago" to indicate that something happened in the recent past. For example, "Not long ago, I visited Italy, and the food was amazing."

What are some alternatives to saying "not long ago"?

Some alternatives include "recently", "lately", "in the recent past", or "just recently".

Is it better to say "not long ago" or "a long time ago"?

The choice depends on the timeframe you're referring to. Use "not long ago" for events that happened relatively recently. Use "a long time ago" when referring to events that happened far in the past.

Can I use "not long ago" in formal writing?

Yes, "not long ago" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, you might consider using alternatives such as "in the recent past".