over recent months

USAGE SUMMARY

'over recent months' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a period of time that began in the recent past and is still ongoing. For example: "Over recent months, I have really enjoyed learning a new language."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The two have not combined particularly well over recent months.

Independent

They've been doing precisely that over recent months.

The New York Times

Dunning also seemed pleased with developments over recent months.

The Guardian

"Activity in the housing sector has increased over recent months".

The New York Times

Two main "camps" have coalesced over recent months.

The Guardian - Business

In fact, some say contact has improved over recent months.

The Guardian

And its evolution over recent months has been prudent.

The New York Times - Food

"Improved salaries over recent months mean that pay is less of a gripe for UK workers.

Independent

Mr Ackman's hedge fund has accumulated a 10% stake in Allergan over recent months.

The Economist

While this figure has been declining over recent months, it is still historically high.

The New York Times

As regular readers of this column will know, I've found it hard going over recent months.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over recent months", ensure the context implies a continuous action or state that has been ongoing and is likely to continue. It's best suited for describing trends, developments, or prolonged situations.

Common error

Avoid using "over recent months" with a single, completed action. Instead of saying "Over recent months, I went to Paris", use "I went to Paris recently" or "In recent months, I have been to Paris several times" if you want to imply repeated trips.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over recent months" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating a timeframe within which an action occurs or a state exists. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "over recent months" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase used to set a temporal context, denoting actions or states that have been ongoing up to the present. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and suitable for a variety of contexts. It commonly appears in news, business, and scientific writing. When using "over recent months", ensure that it's paired with a verb tense that indicates a continuous or repeated action. Related phrases, like "in recent months" or "during recent months", can serve as alternatives, and the context often dictates the most suitable choice. This phrase is widely accepted and understood, contributing to clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in recent months

Replaces "over" with "in", slightly altering the emphasis on the duration.

during recent months

Uses "during" instead of "over", emphasizing the period in which something occurs.

in the past few months

Substitutes "recent months" with "past few months", offering a more specific timeframe.

over the last few months

Similar to "in the past few months" but uses "last" instead of "past".

for the last few months

Focuses on duration using "for", changing the perspective slightly.

recently

A shorter, more general term indicating the near past, lacking the specific timeframe.

of late

An idiomatic expression meaning "lately" or "recently", more formal and less common.

in recent times

Broadens the timeframe to "recent times", making it less specific than "recent months".

since recently

Indicates a starting point in the recent past, different from the continuous period implied by "over recent months".

in the current period

Replaces "recent months" with "current period", making it suitable for formal or business contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "over recent months" in a sentence?

Use "over recent months" to describe trends or situations that have developed in the period leading up to the present. For instance, "Over recent months, the company's profits have steadily increased."

What are some alternatives to "over recent months"?

You can use alternatives like "in recent months", "during recent months", or "in the past few months" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in recent months" instead of "over recent months"?

Yes, "in recent months" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to "over recent months". Both phrases are commonly used to refer to the period leading up to the present.

What's the difference between "over recent months" and "for the last few months"?

"Over recent months" emphasizes a continuous period, while "for the last few months" stresses the duration. The difference is subtle, and they are often interchangeable.