too recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too recently" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to something that has happened very recently, and often indicates that it is not appropriate or acceptable because it is too soon. Example: "I cannot consider your request for a raise, as you just received a salary increase too recently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Ms. Mueller, too, recently entered rehab.

The New York Times

Had someone fed them too recently?

The New York Times - Magazine

All too recently, in fact.

The Guardian - Sport

Pillsbury, too, recently discussed a deal with Fulbright.

The New York Times

The donor's infection had occurred too recently to be detected.

The New York Times

They've paid too much, too recently, to forget the lesson.

The Guardian - Money

And he, too, recently condemned predatory lending practices.

The New York Times

Notably, he argued that the euro crisis broke too recently to be responsible for Britain's woes.

The Economist

That story, too, recently enjoyed a revival on the New York rialto.

The New York Times

Humans started reading far too recently for any of our genes to code for it specifically.

The New Yorker

The Landmarks Preservation Commission received the proposals too recently to have taken any action.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity and impact, consider pairing "too recently" with adverbs like 'far', 'just', or 'still' to intensify the sense of temporal closeness and its implications. Example: "The decision was made far too recently to assess its long-term impact."

Common error

Avoid using "too recently" when you simply mean 'recently' without implying any negative consequence or premature action. Using just "recently" would be more appropriate when recency is merely descriptive, not critical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too recently" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating when something occurred in relation to a particular event or expectation. As supported by Ludwig, it emphasizes the recency and suggests that the timing is somehow critical or relevant. For example, "The data was collected too recently to show a trend."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

46%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "too recently" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase that expresses the proximity of an event to the present, often implying that this recency is significant or problematic. According to Ludwig, its usage is most common in News & Media and Science contexts. While semantically similar alternatives like "very recently" or "just now" exist, they lack the specific connotation of premature timing or inappropriateness. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is generally considered correct and useful for expressing temporal relationships with a critical edge. Therefore, when using "too recently", consider whether the recency is a noteworthy factor in the situation you're describing, ensuring you avoid misinterpreting its connotation with a mere description of an event that happened ""not long ago"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very recently

Emphasizes recency but lacks the implication of premature timing.

just now

Highlights the immediacy of the event, suitable for informal contexts.

in recent times

More formal, referring to a period rather than a specific moment.

not long ago

A less precise way of indicating a recent event.

in the near past

Formal and somewhat distant, suitable for academic or historical contexts.

lately

Implies a trend or pattern of recent occurrences.

newly

Focuses on the state of being new, rather than the timing.

freshly

Conveys a sense of immediacy and newness, often related to actions.

shortly before

Highlights the proximity to a specific prior event.

just before

Similar to 'shortly before' but emphasizes the temporal relationship.

FAQs

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

Use "too recently" to indicate that something has occurred so shortly before the present that it affects a situation negatively or makes an assessment premature. For example, "The policy was implemented "too recently" to see significant results".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "too recently"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "very recently", "just now", or "not long ago" to express a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "recently" and "too recently"?

"Recently" simply indicates that something happened in the near past. "Too recently" implies that the timing is problematic or inappropriate, often because it's too soon to expect a certain outcome or change.

Can "too recently" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "too recently" is appropriate in formal writing when you need to convey that the timing of an event is a relevant factor in a discussion or analysis. Its appropriateness depends on the specific context and tone of the writing.