recent colleagues

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recent colleagues" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals you have worked with in a professional setting within a relatively short time frame. Example: "I had a great time catching up with my recent colleagues at the networking event last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Voice broke the story, explaining: "The agreement appears to put a crimp in any employee's plans to create or join a rival company–such as an online news site and bring recent colleagues on board, even those without jobs".

Forbes

Chief Justice John Roberts highlighted this error of the system just last month: "Look at my more recent colleagues, all extremely well qualified for the court," he said, and the votes were, I think, strictly on party lines for the last three of them, or close to it, and that doesn't make any sense.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Brian Eno, Gavin Bryars and Sonic Youth have been among more recent musical colleagues.

The New York Times - Arts

At a recent dinner, colleagues of mine joked about other ways to solve the problem.

The Economist

In recent years, colleagues say, Ms. Head seemed dedicated to the cause of uniting and supporting the 9/11 survivors.

The New York Times

Wall to Wall said it is looking for bands made up of "old friends or recent work colleagues" who may have "been together for years…decades even".

The Guardian

Even his recent leave campaign colleagues doubt his credentials as a statesman.

The Guardian - Opinion

What prompted me to reflect on this was a recent conversation with colleagues.

The Guardian

Morgan said that on a recent work placement, colleagues treated her in a patronising manner.

The Guardian

At a recent lunch with colleagues, Mr. Chafee said, he offered them an apology and found himself comforted by a conservative, Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.

The New York Times

This complicated topic is the subject of a recent paper my colleagues and I published in the journal Reviews of Geophysics.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "recent colleagues", ensure the context clearly establishes the timeframe you are describing. For example, "recent colleagues from my previous company" clarifies the association.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by being specific about the timeframe implied by "recent". Without context, readers may misinterpret how long ago you worked with these colleagues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recent colleagues" functions as a noun phrase, specifically an adjective ("recent") modifying a noun ("colleagues"). It's used to identify a specific group of individuals based on the timeframe of a professional relationship. As Ludwig suggests, it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "recent colleagues" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe individuals with whom one has worked professionally in the near past. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, remember that its frequency is considered rare, and providing contextual clarity is crucial to avoid ambiguity. As shown by Ludwig, this term appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and professional settings, but is more prevalent in the news and media sphere. Consider using alternative phrases like "former colleagues" or "past colleagues" for variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recent coworkers

Uses an alternative term for colleagues but maintains the recency.

previous colleagues

Focuses on the idea that colleagues are no longer current, having worked together in the past.

new colleagues

Emphasizes the newness of the working relationship.

former colleagues

Indicates a past professional association, without specifying timeframe.

past colleagues

Similar to former colleagues, suggesting a working relationship that has ended.

current colleagues

Highlights that the colleagues are presently working together, but doesn't specify the length of time.

work peers

Highlights the professional equivalence between the individuals.

fellow workers

A more general term for people you work with, regardless of time.

immediate colleagues

Emphasizes the direct working relationship but does not specify time.

team members

Focuses on being part of the same team, regardless of how long.

FAQs

How do you use "recent colleagues" in a sentence?

You can use "recent colleagues" to describe people you have worked with in the near past. For instance, "I collaborated with my recent colleagues on a project last quarter."

What's a good alternative to "recent colleagues"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "former colleagues", "new colleagues", or "past colleagues" to refer to individuals you've worked with.

Is it appropriate to use "recent colleagues" in formal writing?

Yes, "recent colleagues" is suitable for formal writing as long as the timeframe implied by "recent" is clear within the context.

What's the difference between "recent colleagues" and "current colleagues"?

"Recent colleagues" implies a past working relationship within a limited timeframe, while "current colleagues" refers to people you are presently working with.