were recently

USAGE SUMMARY

"were recently" is a perfectly acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that has happened in the past who is still relevant or has immediate relevance. For example: "The changes to the tax code were recently announced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The lithographs were recently printed.

The New York Times - Arts

Both vulnerabilities were recently patched.

The New York Times

Six claims were recently settled.

Independent

Her uncle and aunt were recently murdered.

The Economist

She and Mr. McGurk were recently married.

The New York Times

The kitchen and bathrooms were recently renovated.

The New York Times

The kitchen and bathroom were recently renovated.

The New York Times

C.L.: You were recently on Jeopardy.

The New Yorker

The bathroom and kitchen were recently renovated.

The New York Times

Comics were recently added too.

The Guardian - Tech

Thirty-five Pakistanis were recently flown out.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were recently" to clearly indicate that an action or event occurred in the near past, ensuring the timeline is easily understood by your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "were recently" when "were formerly" is more appropriate. "Were recently" indicates a very short time ago, while "were formerly" implies a change of state or role that may have happened further in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were recently" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the time frame in which an action or event occurred. Ludwig examples confirm its use to indicate events in the immediate past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were recently" is a versatile and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that an action or event occurred in the near past. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and frequency across various contexts, especially in news and scientific reporting. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intended timeframe and is not confused with similar phrases like "were formerly". As Ludwig shows, "were recently" is a valuable tool for providing temporal context and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had just been

Emphasizes the immediate past, suggesting the event occurred very shortly before the present.

were newly

Highlights the newness or freshness of the state or condition resulting from the event.

were just

Indicates the action happened a short time ago.

were lately

A more formal alternative, indicating something happened in the recent past.

have been

Shifts the focus to the continuing relevance or impact of the recent event.

were previously

Highlights the contrast between a past state and the current situation.

were earlier

Similar to previously, but with a less formal tone.

were formerly

Indicates a change in status or condition from a past state.

were before

Emphasizes the chronological order of events, highlighting a prior state.

were up until now

Highlights an event that continued until the present moment.

FAQs

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

Use "were recently" to indicate that something happened in the near past. For example, "The regulations "were recently updated"" or "The findings "were recently published"."

What are some alternatives to "were recently"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "had just been", "were newly", or "were lately", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "were recently"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It's a common and accepted way to express that something occurred in the recent past, as indicated by Ludwig AI.

What is the difference between "were recently" and "were previously"?

"Were recently" indicates an event that happened very shortly ago, whereas "were previously" suggests something that occurred at an earlier, less defined time in the past.