only very recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "only very recently" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has occurred or changed in the near past. Example: "The company has only very recently implemented new policies to improve employee satisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Only very recently has she started to talk about it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Only very recently have researchers begun to uncover the cause.

The New York Times - Health

Governors have only very recently approved the policy".

The Guardian

The species' vocalizations have only very recently been documented and described.

Cornell University

It's only very recently that I've begin thinking about America being my America.

The New York Times

But for some reason it is only very recently that people have really begun to care.

The Guardian

Like most of the staff, he had arrived in Britain only very recently.

Independent

G.M. has developed more momentum on the product side, but only very recently.

The New York Times

Kenya's president, Daniel Arap Moi, only very recently reversed his opposition to condom use.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The stadium operators have only very recently agreed to install a satisfactory radio system".

The Guardian - Sport

Until only very recently we were top of the list of number of bars per head.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only very recently" to highlight the novelty or newness of a situation or discovery. It adds emphasis to the short time frame involved.

Common error

Avoid using "only very recently" multiple times within a short passage. Vary your phrasing with alternatives like "just recently" or "lately" to prevent redundancy and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only very recently" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause to specify when an action occurred, emphasizing its recency. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "only very recently" effectively emphasizes the recency of an event or situation. As Ludwig AI shows, it is grammatically correct, frequently used in diverse contexts such as news, science, and academia, and maintains a neutral register appropriate for professional communication. To enhance your writing, use this phrase to highlight novelty, but avoid overuse by incorporating alternatives like "just recently" or "not long ago". Remember, that both ""only very recently"" and ""just recently"" are correct and can be used based on the level of emphasis you want to provide.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just recently

Emphasizes the immediate past; a slightly more informal alternative.

very lately

Similar in meaning, but may imply a slightly longer period than "only very recently".

not long ago

A simpler, more direct way to express the idea of a recent event.

in recent times

More formal and descriptive, referring to the general period of recent events.

in the recent past

Formal and emphasizes the past nature of the recent event.

of late

Somewhat archaic, but still indicates recent occurrence.

in recent memory

Highlights that the event is easily recalled.

just now

Focuses on the immediate present or very near past.

in just the last few days

Specifies a very short time frame.

in the last little while

Informal, emphasizing a short duration.

FAQs

How can I use "only very recently" in a sentence?

Use "only very recently" to indicate that something has occurred or started in the near past. For instance, "The research team "only very recently" discovered a new species of plant".

What are some alternatives to "only very recently"?

Alternatives include "just recently", "lately", or "not long ago". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "only very recently" or "just recently"?

Both ""only very recently"" and ""just recently"" are correct. "Only very recently" may add a slightly more formal or emphatic tone compared to "just recently".

What's the difference between "recently" and "only very recently"?

"Recently" indicates that something happened in the past, but ""only very recently"" emphasizes that it happened in the immediate or very near past. The addition of "only very" highlights the recency of the event.