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Prepositions after adjectives

Recent of vs. recent in

Recent normally does not take of. Recent in is possible when referring to a period, field, or area.

Quick answer

Correct usage

Do not use recent of in standard English. Use recent in for events or changes within a period, place, or subject area.

Changes recent in the industry caused concern.
His work has become important recent in modern history.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
recent in + field/time

Locating something within a context

In introduces the area or period.

Developments recent in medical research are promising.
2
recent years

Referring to a near past period

This noun phrase is extremely common.

In recent years tourism has increased.
3
most recent + noun

Identifying the latest item

Use most recent before a noun.

the most recent report

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
recent of
recent of the policy
Nonstandard in current English.
recent in
Changes recent in the industry surprised investors.
Existing or happening within a field or period.
recent to
The issue is recent to this region.
Possible but uncommon; often replaced by new to.
recent among
A trend recent among teenagers
Describes a pattern within a group.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using recent of

Standard English does not use recent of.

✕ a recent of the event ✓ a recent event

Forgetting the noun after recent

Recent usually directly modifies a noun.

✕ the recent of policy changes ✓ recent policy changes

Using in without context

In needs a field, place, or time period.

✕ This trend is recent in. ✓ This trend is recent in finance.

Confusing recent and new

Recent refers to time; new refers to novelty.

✓ She is new to the company.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Which phrase is standard English?
2. Changes ___ the industry affected prices.
3. In ___, online shopping has grown rapidly.

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Frequently asked questions

Is recent of correct?

No. It is not standard modern English.

Can I use recent in?

Yes, when in introduces a field, place, or period.

What is the most common use of recent?

It usually appears directly before a noun, such as recent changes or recent events.

racist-in-against-for-to, towards "radical in" or "radical for"? rampant in, among, with, on or throughout? "rare in" or "rare for"? "rational for" or "rational in"? "raw in", "raw for" or "raw with"? reachable by, from, on, in or through? "reactive to", "reactive rather" or "reactive in"? ready for, to, in, at or by? "realistic about" or "realistic in"? "real to", "real for" or "real in"? rearing of, as or on?

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