up until recently

USAGE SUMMARY

"up until recently" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means "until not long ago" or "until just before the present time". For example: "Up until recently, I was unaware of the surprising fact."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And since these stocks have been beaten up (until recently) they look like value plays.

Forbes

which up until recently controlled half of the portable graphic chipset market.

Forbes

That's because, up until recently, she's been known by another alias: Cortana Blue.

Vice

"Up until recently, there was nada in White Plains".

The New York Times

Up until recently, the notion of keeping a record for assists struck many purists as folly.

The New York Times

Up until recently, the news programs had defied gravity in holding up so well.

The New York Times

Up until recently, we've been looking only at the cultural basis of who we are".

The New Yorker

Up until recently, Tunisia had been considered a model of stability.

The New York Times

"Up until recently, we were not told it was wrong," said Kristin Ebert, 19.

The New York Times

Pixar has 600 animators, Dreamworks 700 and Disney, up until recently, 2,000, he said.

The New York Times

Up until recently, every single person on my team was female.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up until recently" to clearly indicate a situation that has changed in the near past, providing context for the present state. This phrase is effective when highlighting a shift or evolution over time.

Common error

Avoid using "up until recently" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "formerly" or "previously" to vary your language and maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up until recently" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a temporal adverbial. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating the time frame before a recent change or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correctly used to set a time boundary.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up until recently" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate a change that occurred in the near past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to provide temporal context and contrast a past state with a current one. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, it functions as an adverbial phrase. While "until recently" is a shorter and equally valid alternative, "up until recently" provides a slightly stronger emphasis on the time leading up to the recent change. Overuse should be avoided for stylistic reasons, but the phrase itself is a clear and effective way to highlight recent shifts in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until recently

Shorter version omitting "up", slightly less emphatic.

not long ago

Emphasizes the short duration of time since the change.

formerly

More concise and formal, focusing on the previous state.

previously

Similar to "formerly", indicating a prior time.

until now

Focuses on the present moment as the point of change.

up to now

Similar to "until now", but with slightly less emphasis on the immediacy.

in the past

More general, lacks the implication of a very recent change.

in earlier times

More generic and less precise about the recentness of the change.

in days gone by

More poetic and less suitable for formal contexts.

heretofore

Highly formal and somewhat archaic, less common in modern usage.

FAQs

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

You can use "up until recently" to describe a situation that has changed not long ago. For example: "Up until recently, I thought that the world was flat."

What are some alternatives to "up until recently"?

Alternatives include "until recently", "formerly", or "previously", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it redundant to say "up until recently"?

While "until recently" is also correct and conveys a similar meaning, "up until recently" adds a slight emphasis on the period leading to the recent change. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "up until recently" and "in the past"?

"Up until recently" implies a change that occurred in the near past, while "in the past" is more general and can refer to any point in time before now. Therefore, "in the past" does not necessarily suggest a recent change.