My English blog

Recently:    has the widest use in positive, negative , and questions with the past tense and the present perfect tense

eg:    Did she have a party recently?i

       or      They've recently bought a new car

Not long ago: is only used in positive statements with the verb in the past tense

eg :       They arrived in Britain not long ago/recently

or        It's not long ago that they arrived in Britain

Lately: is used in questions and negative statements. In positive statements it is used generally with only, much and alot. The verb must be in present perfect tense

eg:     Have you seen him lately/recently?i

    i           They haven't written lately/recently

But         She's only lately/recently begun working here

i             I've seen alot of her lately/recently