until only recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'until only recently' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to express something that happened until a certain point in time that is close to the present. For example: "I had not seen my cousin recently until only recently, when we both attended Aunt Ellen's birthday party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

UNTIL only recently, the 90-year-old Deniz Palas (Sea Palace in Turkish) in Istanbul's Sishane neighborhood was a perfect symbol of the city's faded glory.

The New York Times - Travel

Until only recently fluff has been largely disposed of in controlled landfill sites.

Waste Management

But not until only recently did so many people act on that.

The New York Times - Style

Until only recently, we also felt this way about having conversations about family and domestic violence.

The Guardian

Where else was it illegal until only recently to install a disposal in the kitchen sink?

The New York Times

The failure to deal with that problem until only recently undermined past repairs even as they were being done.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Until only very recently we were top of the list of number of bars per head.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tool manufacturing and use are perfect examples because these talents were considered uniquely human until only very recently.

Huffington Post

As a result, most drilling plans were suspended until only recently, when a Russian team began to drill through the old hole toward the lake, despite protest from the scientific community.

Forbes

As noted earlier, the Swedish Medical Birth Register reported (until recently) only stillbirths with GA ≥28 completed weeks.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Only until recently, a metrological reference exists to the increase of ammonia in Hesse (Figure15[31]).

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until only recently" to highlight a change or development that has occurred in the near past, making sure the context clearly indicates the shift you're emphasizing.

Common error

Avoid using "until only recently" when referring to changes that occurred long ago; this phrase is best suited for events within the last few years.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until only recently" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something was the case. It specifies a timeframe ending in the near past. As Ludwig AI explains, it expresses an action that occurred not long ago.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until only recently" is a common adverbial phrase used to indicate that a situation or condition existed up to a short time ago. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. While alternatives like "just recently" or "lately" exist, "until only recently" emphasizes the recency of a change. It's crucial to use it accurately, referring to changes that occurred in the near past, and to consider conciseness in writing by occasionally opting for simpler alternatives like "recently".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just recently

Uses "just" to emphasize the recency, offering a slightly less formal tone.

very recently

Similar meaning but focuses on the short time span involved.

in recent times

More formal and general, referring to the present era.

lately

A simple and direct synonym, suitable for most contexts.

of late

A more literary or old-fashioned way to express the same idea.

in the recent past

More explicit about the time frame being considered.

not long ago

Emphasizes the brevity of the time elapsed.

in just the past few years

More direct specifying the time frame of the "past few years".

up until now

More focused on the present moment as a point of change.

previously

Indicates a state before a specific, though unspecified, recent time.

FAQs

How can I use "until only recently" in a sentence?

Use "until only recently" to indicate that a situation or condition existed up to a short time ago. For example: "Until only recently, the company relied solely on traditional marketing methods."

What are some alternatives to "until only recently"?

You can use alternatives such as "just recently", "very recently", or "lately" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it ever incorrect to use "until only recently"?

While grammatically correct, "until only recently" may sound redundant to some. Using a simpler alternative like "recently" can sometimes be more concise.

What is the difference between "until recently" and "until only recently"?

"Until recently" and "until only recently" both indicate that something was true up to a short time ago. The addition of "only" emphasizes the recency of the change.