Question
Updated on
4 Dec 2022
- Simplified Chinese (China)
-
English (US)
-
Japanese
Question about English (US)
What’s the difference?
recently vs lately vs newly
What’s the difference?
recently vs lately vs newly
recently vs lately vs newly
Answers
4 Dec 2022
Featured answer
- English (US)
Newly is not very common. It tends to only be seen in specific contexts, like:
"This newly-made dishwasher runs more efficiently than it's competitors" (Products or machines that are made can be called "new", so 'newly' fits okay. But its a little bit fancy sounding, on purpose.)
or "The newlywed couple married just last week." ("newlywed" being one word, meaning "a couple that has just recently married")
Recently and lately are pretty much interchangeable, and both are very common words. "Recently" is perhaps slightly more formal.
Highly-rated answerer
Read more comments
- English (US)
Newly is not very common. It tends to only be seen in specific contexts, like:
"This newly-made dishwasher runs more efficiently than it's competitors" (Products or machines that are made can be called "new", so 'newly' fits okay. But its a little bit fancy sounding, on purpose.)
or "The newlywed couple married just last week." ("newlywed" being one word, meaning "a couple that has just recently married")
Recently and lately are pretty much interchangeable, and both are very common words. "Recently" is perhaps slightly more formal.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
- English (US)
If you're describing something ongoing or reoccurring, "recently" and "lately" are mostly synonymous.
E.g. "Recently I've been thinking of hiring a maid" is the same as "Lately I've been thinking of hiring a maid."
For a one-time event, however, "recently" sounds more natural than "lately" (at least to me):
"Recently I hired a maid" not "Lately I hired a maid."
"Newly" cannot be used in the above cases and instead applies mostly to adjectives:
"I've been enjoying my newly clean house after hiring a maid."
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@adrich13 Thank you! What about this sentence? “Newly” is used with a verb. Does that sound natural to you?
Hydroxocobalamin is newly approved in the US.
Hydroxocobalamin is newly approved in the US.
- English (US)
@studiousboy although it's formed from the verb "approve," the word "approved" in this case is actually functioning as an adjective. These are called participial adjectives because they are formed from the participle form of the verb. When you say "Hydroxocobalamin is newly approved in the US" you are describing hydroxocobalamin using "is" (to be). You could also say "The US recently approved hydroxocobalamin."
- Simplified Chinese (China)

[News] Hey you! The one learning a language!
Do you know how to improve your language skills❓ All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker!
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
Sign up
Similar questions
- What difference between ”on top of that” and ”what is more”? And How can I use those phrases? ...
- Could you please tell me what is the difference between 'broad agreement' and 'broad consensus'? ...
- What is the difference between replace and substitution? In Chinese both of them mean 替换.
Recommended Questions
- I was asked a question from my friend like, "what's this photo suppose to be?" in two separate...
- 日本語を人に教えてあげるときに 丁寧に話す時 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 日常会話で話す時 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX と書きたいです。 「丁寧に話す時」...
- what is correct? Where are you study? Or Where do you study? Thank you.
- How to respond to "I hope you are doing well"?
- If you are not the correct person, please direct me the correct one. Does this sentence sound nat...
Topic Questions
- I'd like to know the difference below. ①This makes me exciting. ②This makes me excited. Is ① a...
- There were two Italian coming to our restaurant. I wonder the best way to start a small talk to a...
- The community receptions introducing Chip In that Lee, Gabby and I had a hand in *whipped up lots...
- You should books which tell you a lot. Is this sentence correct?
- 「寒くて、雪もちらついていましたが、たくさんの人がきてくれました。」と英語では何と言いますか。
Newest Questions
- My friend is going to visit my area and he sent 'I could come after my exam' via chat. From his p...
- Was the window open originally? I'm starting to feel cold Is this natural? If it sounds unnatura...
- I removed a mole on middle finger today The laser therapy didn’t hurt me but the numbing shot bef...
- Is the question “bob or flop” only about songs?
- I translated following sentence into English by myself. But I'm not sure my translation is correc...
Previous question/ Next question