until recently

USAGE SUMMARY

"until recently" is a grammatically correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is typically used to indicate something that has just recently happened or changed. For example, "We hadn't seen each other since high school, so I was surprised when I ran into him at the grocery store last week - until recently, I didn't even know he lived in town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

UNTIL recently, they were rivals.

The Economist

UNTIL recently, Serbia was an authoritarian state.

The Economist

Until recently.

Forbes

until recently.

Columbia University

Until recently, that is.

The New York Times

Until recently, anyway.

The Economist

Until recently, at least.

The Economist

That is, until recently.

The New York Times

At least until recently.

The New York Times

Until recently this has worked.

The Economist

Until recently, neither had I.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until recently" to highlight a change or contrast between a past situation and the current one. It adds emphasis to the newness or recency of the shift.

Common error

Avoid using "until recently" when the recency is already implied by the surrounding context. For instance, instead of saying "Until recently, the price was high, but now it's lower", consider "The price was high, but it's now lower".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until recently" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a temporal boundary or shift. It modifies a statement by specifying that a certain condition or situation was valid up to a short time ago. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until recently" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that a situation has changed in the time leading up to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for various writing styles, particularly in news and media. While effective, it's best used when the recency of the change is relevant. Consider alternatives like "formerly" or "previously" if the timing isn't crucial. It is found that it can be overused in redundant contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Until lately

Is a close synonym, emphasizing the recent nature of the change.

In the recent past

Identical meaning but with a slightly more elaborate structure.

Not long ago

Directly indicates a short time has passed, emphasizing the recency.

Previously

Highlights a prior time or situation, differing slightly by not necessarily implying a very recent change.

As of late

Less common, but functionally interchangeable, focusing on the period leading up to the present.

Formerly

Implies a previous state or condition, similar to "until recently" but without emphasis on how recent the change occurred.

In recent times

Focuses on the general period that just ended, with a similar degree of formality.

Lately

Refers to the period immediately before the present, similar but slightly less formal.

Up until now

Indicates a situation that has persisted until the present moment, but does not specifically indicate a recent change.

In the past

Focuses on a time before the present, omitting the recency aspect.

FAQs

How do I use "until recently" in a sentence?

"Until recently" is used to indicate that something was true or the case up to a short time ago. For example, "Until recently I thought that the Earth was flat".

What are some alternatives to "until recently"?

Alternatives include "formerly", "previously", or "not long ago". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "until recently" and "lately"?

"Until recently" highlights a specific change from a previous state, whereas "lately" refers to a period leading up to the present without necessarily implying a change.

Can "until recently" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "until recently" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. Ludwig shows that it's used in reputable news publications as well as academic papers.