until rather recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until rather recently" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time period that extends up to a point not long ago, often in discussions about changes or developments. Example: "Until rather recently, the technology was considered too advanced for everyday use."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Until rather recently, Agassi's wife, Steffi Graf, was winning major after major and Boris Becker and Michael Stich were intimidating opponents at Wimbledon.

The New York Times - Sports

My feelings were complicated by the fact that, until rather recently, to my great shame, I'd regularly slept with my parents on the cot in their room, and not in the room where I kept my clothes and things.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Until recently, rather than trying to predict whether a given SAAP will result in a deleterious phenotype, our focus has been on trying to understand the effects that mutations have on protein structure, comparing these effects in SNPs (that is non-pathogenic mutations) and PDs.

BMC Genomics

Witness the now-orthodox but until recently rather fringe opinion that the second amendment fully protects an individual's right to own whatever guns and accessories he pleases.

The Economist

In Zakaria's birthplace in the north-east, schoolchildren learn Kurdish, banned until recently, rather than Arabic, the national language.Syria is gradually breaking into three.

The Economist

It's a simple fact that people prefer to deal with an outfit they know, and Parker has been until recently rather unknown abroad.

Forbes

Nevertheless, the amount of efficient genetic engineering tools available was, until recently, rather disproportionate to its industrial potential.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

UNTIL recently, they were rivals.

The Economist

UNTIL recently, Serbia was an authoritarian state.

The Economist

Compared with UVB, UVA causes less obvious damage and was therefore, until recently, considered rather harmless.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

America is creating a barrier that is at once much too porous and rather too tight.Until fairly recently the western half of the US-Mexican border was largely abstract.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until rather recently", ensure the context clearly indicates what has changed or what the previous state was. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "until rather recently" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your phrasing by using alternatives like "until just recently" or "in the recent past".

Linguistic Context

"Until rather recently" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the duration of a state or action, specifying that it continued up to a point in the recent past. Ludwig AI's validation confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "until rather recently" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that something was true up to a point in the near past. While deemed valid by Ludwig AI, its usage is relatively rare. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using the phrase, consider alternatives such as "until just recently" or "until fairly recently" for variety. Avoid overusing the phrase to maintain clarity and engagement in your writing. The phrase is typically neutral in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until quite recently

Slightly more common and emphasizes the recency to a greater extent.

until fairly recently

Similar in meaning, but suggests a slightly longer period.

until just recently

Emphasizes the very recent nature of the change.

until lately

More informal and implies a shorter timeframe.

until very recently

Emphasizes the immediate past.

in recent times

More general and less precise about the exact cutoff point.

not long ago

Simple and direct, suitable for informal contexts.

in the recent past

More formal and emphasizes the past nature of the timeframe.

up until now

Focuses on the present state as a result of the change.

in the not-so-distant past

More descriptive and less frequently used.

FAQs

What does "until rather recently" mean?

The phrase "until rather recently" means up to a point in the near past. It indicates that something was true or the case until a short time ago, implying a recent change or development.

What can I say instead of "until rather recently"?

You can use alternatives like "until just recently", "until fairly recently", or "in the recent past" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "until rather recently"?

The phrase "until rather recently" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for both news media and academic writing. Simpler alternatives like "not long ago" are more informal.

Can "until rather recently" be used at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "until rather recently" can sound slightly awkward. It's often better to place it within the sentence for a smoother flow. For example: "The technology, until rather recently, was too expensive."