recently as before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recently as before" is not correct in English and may cause confusion.
It seems to attempt to convey a sense of continuity or similarity between past and recent events, but the structure is awkward. Example: "The results of the experiment were consistent, recently as before, indicating that our hypothesis was correct."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is not, of course, anything to do with him and the complacency he was fostering as recently as before Christmas.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The picture was sold in Zürich as recently as March 2008, before entering a "German collection".

The New York Times - Arts

An alternative idea sees Verizon buy the whole of Vodafone, and recent reports suggested discussions about such a deal had taken place as recently as December before breaking down.

The Guardian - Business

But as recently as 2001, before the iPhone and the iPod, Apple was a niche computer company without a mass market hit.

The New York Times

The company's stock was trading above $100 a share as recently as last fall before an announcement in January that the 787 program would face significant delays.

The New York Times

She was 98. Bourgeois had continued creating artwork until as recently as last week, before suffering a heart attack on Saturday night.

Independent

As recently as Saturday, before the gravity of the nuclear disaster in Japan was clear, a top Chinese official restated China's commitment to nuclear power.

The New York Times

China was a net exporter as recently as 1992, before the demands of its economic boom created an insatiable energy appetite at home.

The New York Times

As recently as a week ago, before he had to go into the hospital for the final time, he'd been talking about getting back to his regular duties as a film critic.

The New Yorker

Speaking in the House of Commons, Miliband pointed out that Cameron had wanted keep the 50p rate as recently as 2009, before it was cut by the chancellor, George Osborne, to 45p in the budget of 2012.

The Guardian

The 30,000 figure was itself a surprising downgrade from the 100,000 human genes commonly said to exist as recently as five years ago, before the exact sequence of DNA units in the genome was decoded.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "recently as before". Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "as recently as" or "just before" for clearer and more effective communication.

Common error

Don't try to combine "recently as" with "before" in a single phrase. This creates an awkward and grammatically incorrect construction. Keep the time references separate and clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recently as before" attempts to function as an adverbial phrase, aiming to modify a verb or clause by indicating a temporal relationship. However, it fails to achieve this due to its ungrammatical structure. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "recently as before" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. While the intent is to indicate that something happened shortly before another event, the phrasing is awkward and confusing. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct. Instead, use standard and clearer alternatives such as "as recently as", "just before", or "shortly before". These alternatives provide the same temporal context without sacrificing clarity or grammatical correctness. The phrase appears very rarely, suggesting it is not a recognized or accepted expression in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

As recently as...

Standard way to indicate something happened not long ago, replacing the awkward structure.

Just before...

Indicates a time immediately preceding another event, replacing "recently as" with "just".

Shortly before...

Implies a brief period before an event, using 'shortly' instead of 'recently'.

Immediately prior to...

Formal way to indicate temporal precedence, substituting several words for a more concise expression.

Not long before...

Uses negative phrasing to convey recent occurrence.

In the period leading up to...

Describes a time frame preceding an event, differing in structure but similar in meaning.

In anticipation of...

Focuses on the expectation before an event, instead of the timing.

Leading up to...

Highlights the events that precede a specific moment.

In advance of...

Focuses on preparation or action taken ahead of an event.

Preceding...

Simply indicates coming before, offering a more concise alternative.

FAQs

What is the correct way to express something that happened not long before something else?

Use phrases like "as recently as" or "just before" instead of the grammatically incorrect phrase "recently as before".

Can I use "recently as before" in formal writing?

No, "recently as before" is not appropriate for formal writing. It's grammatically incorrect and may confuse your reader. Use a clearer and more standard alternative such as "shortly before".

What are some alternatives to "recently as before" that still convey a sense of immediacy?

Alternatives that maintain a sense of immediacy include "immediately prior to", "not long before", or "just before".

Is "recently as before" ever considered acceptable in informal contexts?

While it might be understood in some very informal settings, it's generally best to avoid "recently as before" altogether. It's not grammatically sound and clearer alternatives exist even for casual conversation, such as just before.