recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The word recently is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has happened or is happening in the recent past or present. Example sentence: I recently went to the beach with my family.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Guardian, which was first published in 1821, is most recently renowned for its agenda-setting NSA and GCHQ revelations following disclosures by whistleblower Edward Snowden, its globally acclaimed investigation into phone hacking and the launch of its groundbreaking digital-first strategy in 2011 and its trailblazing partnership with WikiLeaks in 2010.

The Guardian

Apple's chief designer Jonathan Ive recently criticised Xiaomi's alleged copying of its iPhone, saying: "It is theft and it is lazy.

The Guardian - Tech

We'd love to hear your responses to these stories and any others you've read recently, both at Guardian Cities and elsewhere: share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Guardian

The former defender, who played for Tottenham and Arsenal in the capital, has been courted by the party and recently had lunch with the party chairman, Grant Shapps, amid suggestions he could run for mayor.

The Guardian - Sport

The company recently announced it is to produce a version of The Voice for Middle Eastern broadcaster MBC and 60 further episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond for the Russian market.

The Guardian

Despite the UK's improved performance recently, selling scripted formats to US broadcasters remains a high risk gamble.

The Guardian

Selfridges recently announced that it was getting rid of gendered floors and would just have three floors of fashion merchandised together so that customers could shop according to an expression of "self".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Amy Pascal, recently ousted as Sony's co-chairwoman, told a conference it was up to women, not studios, to demand their worth.

The Guardian - Film

The Susa group (made famous in the film Gorillas in the Mist) recently split, which means the creation of a new, independent gorilla family group in the Mt Karisimbi area looks likely.

The Guardian - Travel

He has since been identified as a 22-year-old called Daniele - investigators have not released his surname - who, until recently, worked in a nearby factory.

The Guardian

Duke said he had been adopted at birth, and he recently returned to Moscow after living for a few years in the Midwest.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "recently" to provide context about when something happened, making your writing more precise and informative. For example, "The company recently launched a new product" is more informative than "The company launched a new product."

Common error

Avoid using "recently" with phrases that already imply recentness, such as "just now" or "a few moments ago". This can make your writing sound repetitive. For example, instead of saying "I recently saw him just now", say "I saw him just now".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "recently" functions primarily as a temporal marker, indicating that an action or event occurred in the near past. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correctly used to provide context about the timing of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "recently" is a versatile and frequently used term for indicating events in the near past. Ludwig confirms its correct grammatical standing and wide applicability. Its prevalence in news media and formal documents underscores its utility in providing temporal context. When using "recently", be mindful of potential redundancies with other time-related phrases and consider whether greater specificity is needed. The alternatives like "lately" or "of late" offer subtle differences in emphasis, allowing writers to fine-tune their message. Using this term effectively contributes to clear and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Lately

Indicates a period closer to the present than "recently".

Of late

A more formal synonym for "lately" and "recently".

In recent times

Emphasizes the period of time rather than the action itself.

Just now

Refers to something that happened in the immediate past.

Not long ago

Highlights the brevity of the time elapsed.

In the past few days

Specifies a timeframe of several days.

In the near past

Focuses on the proximity to the present moment.

In recent weeks

Specifies a timeframe of several weeks.

In the current climate

Highlights the situation or trend of the present time.

In today's world

Highlights the situation or trend of the present time.

FAQs

How can I use "recently" in a sentence?

Use "recently" to indicate that an event occurred in the near past. For example, "I "recently visited Paris"" or "The study was "recently published"."

What are some alternatives to "recently"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "lately", "of late", or "not long ago" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "very recently"?

Yes, "very recently" is grammatically correct and emphasizes that something happened in the very immediate past. However, consider if a more specific timeframe would be more effective.

What's the difference between "recently" and "lately"?

"Recently" usually refers to a specific event in the near past, while "lately" often refers to a period leading up to the present. For example, "I recently saw that movie" versus "I haven't been sleeping well lately."