until very recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until very recently" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame that extends up to a short time ago, often implying that something has changed since then. Example: "Until very recently, the company had been struggling to meet its sales targets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Until very recently.

The Economist

Practiced until very recently.

The New York Times

Until very recently, all had been Hindus.

The Economist

This continued until very recently.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Or there was, until very recently.

The Guardian - Opinion

I would have agreed until very recently.

The Guardian

Until very recently, he had seven cars.

The Guardian

Neither had anyone else until very recently.

The Guardian

But he definitely was, until very recently.

The New York Times

I haven't really reflected on this until very recently.

Cornell University

We have friends who lived there until very recently.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until very recently" to highlight a change or shift in circumstances that has occurred in the near past. This implies a contrast between a past state and the current one.

Common error

Avoid using "until very recently" when referring to events that happened a long time ago. This phrase is best suited for changes within the last few years, not decades.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until very recently" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when a particular state or action was valid. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is frequently employed to introduce a contrast between a past condition and the present situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

19%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "until very recently" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase that indicates a situation was true up to a short time ago. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness. Predominantly found in news and media, academic, and scientific contexts, it serves to highlight changes or shifts in circumstances, emphasizing the recency of the transition. While versatile, it's best used to refer to changes within the last few years, avoiding its use for more distant events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just recently

Shorter and more direct, emphasizing the recency of the change.

only recently

Highlights the short duration since the change occurred.

in the recent past

More formal and emphasizes the time period leading up to the present.

not long ago

Less precise, indicating a relatively short time span.

until lately

A slightly more old-fashioned alternative.

up until now

Focuses on the present moment as the point of change.

in recent times

Similar to "in the recent past" but slightly broader.

of late

More literary and less common in everyday speech.

in the last little while

More informal and colloquial.

in the immediate past

Emphasizes that the time period is directly before the present.

FAQs

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

Use "until very recently" to indicate that something was true or a certain way up to a short time ago. For example, "Until very recently, the company relied solely on traditional marketing methods".

What's a good alternative to "until very recently"?

Alternatives include "just recently", "only recently", or "in the recent past", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Until recently" implies a change that happened sometime in the past, while "until very recently" emphasizes that the change is more immediate and has occurred in the very near past.

Can "until very recently" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "until very recently" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when you want to emphasize the immediacy of a change. However, for more formal contexts, consider using "in the recent past".