until lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until lately" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about an event or state of affairs that began in the past and has ended recently. For example, "I hadn't seen my old friend until lately, but now we've reconnected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Until lately, Guzmán had taken that approach.

The New Yorker

Until lately, I hadn't been a fan of okra.

The New York Times

Until lately, the reasons for this were obvious enough.

The New York Times

Until lately, Prada insisted art and fashion were distinct enterprises.

The New York Times - Magazine

America, the main supplier of peace formulas until lately, is distracted by local concerns.

The Economist

But sexism, it seems, has also contributed to Genzken's relative obscurity, at least until lately.

The New Yorker

He hasn't eaten at them, because until lately none of them had a bar.

The New Yorker

Until lately the printed book changed more frequently, but less creatively, than any other medium.

The New York Times - Books

Until lately, New Yorkers tended to save the shorts and T-shirts for the beach.

The New York Times

This is something Riley would never have discussed or even allowed to come up until lately.

The New York Times - Magazine

But, until lately, in each new cycle the springs were seeming warmer and the freezes not quite so harsh.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until lately" to clearly indicate a change that has occurred relatively recently. This helps to emphasize the shift in circumstances or perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "until lately" when you need to express something that happened a long time ago. "Until lately" is more appropriate for events or situations that have shifted in the recent past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until lately" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a time frame that extends up to a recent point. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and indicates a situation that was true up until recently. Examples in Ludwig show its use in contexts where a shift or change is being highlighted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "until lately" is used to denote a condition or state that prevailed up to a recent point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. With the vast majority of examples stemming from News & Media and Science, it presents itself as valid in both contexts. Although, alternatives like "until recently" or "up until now" exist, "until lately" effectively communicates a recent change in circumstances, making it a valuable addition to anyone's lexicon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until recently

This alternative is very similar to the query, emphasizing the recency of the change.

up until now

It indicates that something was true or happening at every point before now.

not long ago

Highlights the short time that has passed since the change.

as of late

Emphasizes the change happening in the immediate past.

in recent times

This alternative is about the change in recent times.

of late

This version of the phrase is slightly more formal and old-fashioned.

previously

Focuses on the past state, without strong emphasis on the recent change.

formerly

Similar to "previously", but often implies a more established or official past state.

heretofore

A more formal and archaic way to express something that was true before now.

in the past

A general way to refer to a time before the present, without specific recency.

FAQs

How can I use "until lately" in a sentence?

Use "until lately" to describe a situation that was true up to a short time ago, such as, "Until lately, I hadn't been a fan of okra."

What are some alternatives to saying "until lately"?

You can use phrases like "until recently", "up until now", or "not long ago" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "until lately"?

Yes, the phrase "until lately" is grammatically correct and widely used, especially in journalism and academic writing to indicate a recent change.

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

"Lately" refers to something that has happened recently. "Until lately" implies that something was true for a period leading up to recently, and then changed.