very recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very recently" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something happened recently. For example: "I was very sick very recently, so I'm not able to come to work today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Until very recently.

The Economist

"Very recently," Creme said.

The New Yorker

Practiced until very recently.

The New York Times

"It happened very recently".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Until very recently, all had been Hindus.

The Economist

This continued until very recently.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Udmurt became known very recently.

The Guardian

Her head has been very recently shaved.

The New Yorker

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very recently" to highlight the immediate relevance or impact of an event or discovery. It's effective when emphasizing novelty or a change from a previous state.

Common error

Avoid using "very recently" excessively in a single text. Overuse can dilute its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Opt for synonyms like "just now" or "lately" for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very recently" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurred. It is used to emphasize the nearness in time of an event, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "very recently" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to underscore the recency of an event. It's versatile, appearing in various contexts from news and media to scientific and academic writing, as analyzed by Ludwig. While "very recently" is suitable for many scenarios, remember that variety is key. Using alternatives such as "just now" or "lately" can prevent repetition and maintain reader engagement. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Just now

This alternative is shorter and more direct, implying an event occurred at this moment.

Only a moment ago

Implies that the event happened extremely recently, almost instantaneously.

Lately

This is a simpler adverb with similar meaning but less emphasis on immediacy.

In the immediate past

This is a more formal way of indicating a very recent occurrence.

Just a short while ago

Offers a more descriptive and slightly less formal alternative.

In recent times

This alternative broadens the time frame slightly, suggesting a period rather than a specific moment.

In the recent past

Similar to 'in recent times' but slightly more specific and structured.

Of late

This is a slightly archaic alternative that still conveys recentness.

Not long ago

This phrase uses negation to express a similar timeframe, focusing on the limited passage of time.

In the past few days

This specifies a short duration explicitly, narrowing the timeframe.

FAQs

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

"Very recently" is used to emphasize that something happened in the immediate past. For example: "The company "very recently launched" a new product line."

What are some alternatives to "very recently"?

You can use alternatives such as "just now", "lately", or "in the past few days" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to use "very" with "recently"?

While "recently" already implies a short time ago, adding "very" emphasizes the immediacy and can be used for stronger impact. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

What is the difference between "very recently" and "most recently"?

"Very recently" emphasizes the short timeframe, while "most recently" indicates the last occurrence in a series of events.