of late

USAGE SUMMARY

"of late" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to mean "recently" or "in recent times". For example, one might say: "Of late, we have seen an increase in the number of people inquiring about our services."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Son of late Dominic.

The New York Times

Of late, clouds gathered.

The New York Times

Devoted wife of late Harry.

The New York Times

Boston's playing incredible of late".

The New York Times - Sports

Beloved wife of late Rudolph.

The New York Times

The end of late fees?

The New Yorker

Houston has struggled of late.

The New York Times - Sports

It has intensified of late.

The Economist

The area has been plagued of late.

The Economist

Revenue collection forecasts have improved of late.

The New York Times

Oil prices have moderated of late.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of late" to indicate changes, trends or observations that have become noticeable in the recent past. It adds a touch of formality suitable for news reports or essays.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "of late" can sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "recently" or "lately" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The adverbial phrase "of late" functions as an adverb of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or state has occurred or begun in the recent past. It adds a nuance of recentness to the statement, as shown by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Sports

12%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "of late" is a versatile adverbial phrase indicating recent occurrences. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media. While generally acceptable, it's best to reserve it for more formal contexts and opt for simpler alternatives like "recently" or "lately" in casual settings. Its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for adding a touch of sophistication to writing, while effectively conveying the temporal context of recent events. Remember to use it to indicate changes and trends that have become apparent in the recent past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recently

A direct synonym, interchangeable in many contexts but slightly more common in everyday speech.

as of late

An alternative form with similar meaning but slightly less common and can sound more emphatic.

lately

Similar to "recently" but can sometimes imply a more negative connotation or a sense of something happening more frequently than desired.

in recent times

A more formal and emphatic way of saying "of late", suitable for more serious or academic contexts.

in the past few weeks

More specific, referring to a defined period, and less flexible than "of late".

over the last period

Similar in formality to "in recent times", but highlights the duration.

in recent memory

Implies something has happened within a timeframe that is easily recalled.

in the interim

Focuses on the time between two events, rather than a general recent period.

not long ago

A more casual way to express recentness, suitable for informal conversation.

in these times

Broader reference to contemporary times, less precise than "of late".

FAQs

How do I use "of late" in a sentence?

"Of late" is typically placed at the beginning or end of a sentence to indicate that something has occurred recently. For example, "Of late, consumers have been feeling better" or "He's impressed me of late".

What can I say instead of "of late"?

You can use alternatives like "recently", "lately", or "in recent times" depending on the context.

Is "as of late" the same as "of late"?

"As of late" is a variant of "of late" with essentially the same meaning. Both are used to indicate something that has happened or started recently, though "of late" is slightly more common.

When is it appropriate to use "of late"?

"Of late" is suitable for formal writing, news reports, or situations where a slightly elevated tone is desired. In casual conversation, alternatives like "recently" or "lately" may be more appropriate.