somewhat recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat recently" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means that something happened not too long ago, but not immediately or very recently. Example: "I visited New York City somewhat recently, about two months ago."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

But as Fed officials noted in their statement, the U.S. housing sector has slowed somewhat recently and some other economic data in recent days, such as orders for American durable goods, have come in weaker than expected.

Los Angeles Times

Conflicts were not uncommon as corporate Westchester was emerging, he said, adding that the picture has changed somewhat recently.

The New York Times

People don't like politicians now, but adding the "now" suggests that anyone had reason to somewhat recently.

The Guardian - Opinion

But until somewhat recently, there were only a handful of places to eat in this part of the city.

The New York Times

Relations between the two camps have improved somewhat recently, but he said the produce operators wanted a permanent solution.

The New York Times

Microsoft did not give a projection for Windows XP revenues, but Mr. Connors suggested that internal expectations had been scaled back somewhat recently.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

I'm like, 'Dinner.' They go, 'No, everything here's catch-and-release.' I said, 'I spent the whole day to catch this one fish and we're gonna throw it back?' " My recollection of my first fishing outing with Pasternack, though it took place fairly recently, is somewhat spotty.

The New Yorker

But the situation has looked somewhat brighter recently.

The New York Times

Whatever the reason, we've been somewhat spoiled recently with slightly silly opinion pieces about cycling.

The Guardian

Mosul then calmed somewhat, but recently, as American troops have drawn down, activity by extremist Sunni insurgents has been rising again.

The New York Times

Somewhat more recently, in 1871, Mother Mary MacKillop was excommunicated — the church's severest punishment — four years after founding a religious order for women in Australia.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or changes over time, "somewhat recently" can effectively set a temporal boundary without being overly specific. For instance, "The company's policies have changed somewhat recently, leading to improved employee satisfaction."

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat recently" when referring to events that occurred many years ago. It's best suited for events within the last few months or years, depending on the context. If the event was further in the past, consider using alternatives like "in the past" or "previously".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat recently" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying when an action or event occurred. It modifies verbs or clauses, indicating a timeframe that is neither immediate nor distant. As evidenced by Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used to provide temporal context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "somewhat recently" serves as a valuable tool for indicating events in the near past without specifying precise dates. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and scientific fields. As an adverbial modifier, it is more neutral than overly formal, and it is also useful to describe time and give a context of statement. When choosing to use "somewhat recently", remember to ensure that the time frame you are implying is not too distant, and that a more precise indication of time is not necessary for clarity. Alternatives such as "quite recently" or "fairly recently" may offer subtle differences in meaning depending on your desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite recently

Emphasizes the recency more strongly than "somewhat recently".

pretty recently

Similar to "quite recently" but with a slightly more informal tone.

fairly recently

Indicates a recency level similar to "somewhat recently", but may suggest a slightly longer timeframe.

relatively recently

Highlights that the event is recent in comparison to a longer historical context.

a little while ago

More informal and vague, suggesting a recent occurrence without specifying the exact timeframe.

not long ago

A common, less formal way to express that something happened in the near past.

in recent times

Focuses on the period rather than a specific event, indicating a trend or pattern over the near past.

in the recent past

More formal and specific in referring to the timeframe.

just the other day

Emphasizes the immediacy and unexpectedness of the recent event.

in recent memory

Suggests the event is easily recalled because it happened not too long ago.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat recently" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat recently" to indicate that something happened not too long ago. For example, "I visited Paris "somewhat recently", about six months ago."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat recently"?

Alternatives include "quite recently", "fairly recently", or "not long ago". The best choice depends on the context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "somewhat recently" in formal writing?

Yes, "somewhat recently" is appropriate for formal writing. However, consider the audience and the context. In some cases, a more precise timeframe might be preferable.

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

"Somewhat recently" indicates a less immediate timeframe than "very recently". "Very recently" suggests something happened in the immediate past, while "somewhat recently" implies a slightly more distant past.