while recently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "while recently" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a time frame, but "while" and "recently" do not work well together in this context. Example: "While recently attending the conference, I learned about new trends in technology."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For a while recently, city officials turned off the water and erected a cyclone fence.

The New York Times

I hadn't seen my brother Alexander for a while recently and he just turned up in London and surprised me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Your public profile was eclipsed for a while recently by your wife Pamela Stephenson's success on Strictly Come Dancing.

The Guardian

While recently reviewing the excellent Kinect Rush, I questioned whether Kinect could handle anything more than bite-sized challenges.

The Guardian - Tech

Currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for colon cancer, her energy never flagged while recently teaching one of her last classes.

The New York Times

And while recently he has been using his team of strategists and media consultants to shape races outside his district, other leaders are finding that disconcerting.

The New York Times

While recently researching the roots of secular humanism, I found that he stood out from the list of dead white males I was considering.

The Guardian - Opinion

New unemployment claims, while recently rising above 370,000 a week, are still not consistent with such a dramatic surge in joblessness, he said.

The New York Times

But while recently attending an important medical conference, I was horrified to see throngs of physicians heartily eating muffins, cakes and supersized doughnuts for breakfast.

The New York Times - Science

But the agency's top spy, while recently pledging to "disrupt and defeat international terrorism," seemed to say in the next breath that the task was near impossible.

The New York Times

Oliver, whose business empire spans TV, books, restaurants, digital and licensed products, said he came to the estimate while recently reflecting on his 17-year career.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an action that occurred during a specific timeframe, consider using "during" or "in" with a specific time period (e.g., "during the last week", "in the past month") for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid combining "while" and "recently" as it often creates grammatically awkward sentences. Rephrase to emphasize either the concurrent action (using "while") or the recent occurrence (using "recently").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "while recently" functions as an adverbial modifier, attempting to specify the timing of an event. However, according to Ludwig AI, this combination creates grammatical ambiguity, suggesting it's not a standard or recommended construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "while recently" is considered grammatically incorrect and can lead to awkward phrasing. Ludwig AI's analysis and usage examples highlight the preference for more direct alternatives such as "recently", "in recent times", or rephrasing the sentence for clarity. Although "while recently" does appear in published sources, its infrequency and questionable grammatical status suggest that it's best to avoid this construction in favor of clearer and more conventional alternatives. When describing events in the near past, prioritize precision and grammatical correctness for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recently

Omits "while" for a more direct indication of timeframe.

in recent times

Replaces "while recently" with a common idiomatic expression.

just recently

Adds emphasis on the immediacy of the timeframe.

of late

Offers a more formal alternative indicating recent occurrence.

in the recent past

Specifies the timeframe as the past, providing more context.

over the last few days

Replaces "while recently" with a short, specific timeframe.

in the past few weeks

Offers a timeframe of weeks instead of days.

during the previous month

Specifies a one-month timeframe, more precise than just 'recent'.

since last [month/week/year]

Indicates a starting point in the recent past.

not long ago

Indicates that something happened a short time before the present.

FAQs

Is "while recently" grammatically correct?

The phrase "while recently" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use alternatives like "recently" or "in recent times" for clarity.

How can I use "recently" in a sentence?

Use "recently" to indicate that something happened not long ago. For example, "I recently visited Paris" or "The company recently launched a new product".

What's the difference between "while" and "recently"?

"While" indicates that two actions are happening at the same time, whereas "recently" indicates that something happened a short time ago. Combining them can be confusing; consider using separate sentences or rephrasing.

What are some alternatives to "while recently" for describing something that happened in the near past?

Alternatives include "just recently", "of late", or "in the recent past". The best choice depends on the specific context.