until a few months ago

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'until a few months ago' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a time period before now and up to a certain point in the past. For example: I had not seen my grandparents until a few months ago.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Wasn't it bombing Libya until a few months ago".

The New York Times

And until a few months ago, they had never met.

The New York Times

Yet, until a few months ago, any talk of its abolition was taboo.

The Economist

"I didn't even know I was Irish until a few months ago," she said.

The New York Times

Until a few months ago, Ms. Laloi had not even known how to dog paddle.

The New York Times

Mysterious, because until a few months ago, there was no consensus about what caused them.

The Economist

Until a few months ago, Puerto Rico was the belle of the bond markets.

The New York Times

In fact, until a few months ago, it had never been attempted.

The Economist

Up until a few months ago, I lived with my family in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The New York Times

Until a few months ago, Sam Williams never really thought of himself as a career man.

The New York Times

Until a few months ago, he had it stashed in a zipper-sealed plastic bag.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until a few months ago", ensure the context clearly indicates what has changed since that time. This phrase is most effective when highlighting a contrast between a past situation and the present.

Common error

Avoid using "until a few months ago" without providing enough context. Ensure your audience understands the specific timeframe you're referring to. If precision is important, consider specifying the month or season instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until a few months ago" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when something was the case. It indicates a duration that extends up to a point in the recent past. This contrasts with the present situation, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "until a few months ago" is a common and correct way to indicate a time frame in the recent past. According to Ludwig, this phrase is widely used in various contexts, especially in News & Media. While its level of formality is neutral, using more specific temporal references may be preferred in formal writing. When using the phrase, make sure you provide enough context and highlight what has changed since that time. Some alternative phrases include "recently", "in recent months", and "not long ago". Overall, Ludwig confirms that "until a few months ago" is a versatile and reliable phrase for describing recent changes and providing temporal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as recently as a few months ago

Adds emphasis to the recent nature of the event.

in the past few months

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the duration.

in the last several months

Highlights the number of months.

up to a few months back

Informal and uses "back" to indicate past.

in recent months

Focuses on the general time frame without specifying a cutoff point.

until recently

More concise, but conveys the same idea.

recently

A more general term, indicating something happened not long ago.

not long ago

A less specific and more informal way to indicate a recent time.

a short time ago

Emphasizes the brevity of the past period.

in recent times

Broader, referring to a more extended recent period.

FAQs

How can I use "until a few months ago" in a sentence?

Use "until a few months ago" to indicate that a certain situation or state was true up to a short time in the past. For example, "Until a few months ago, I had never tried sushi."

What are some alternatives to "until a few months ago"?

You can use phrases like "recently", "in recent months", or "not long ago" depending on the level of formality and desired emphasis.

Is "until a few months ago" formal or informal?

"Until a few months ago" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or business writing.

How precise is the timeframe indicated by "until a few months ago"?

The phrase "until a few months ago" is not very precise. It indicates a period of roughly 2-6 months in the past. If you need to be more specific, use the actual month or date.