Up to now

USAGE SUMMARY

"Up to now" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a point in time up until the present moment. For example, "Up to now, I have been working hard on my project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is he up to now?

The New York Times

So what's he up to now?

The New York Times

And what was he up to now?

The New Yorker

And what's he up to now?

Independent

They haven't up to now.

The New York Times - Books

What's she up to now?

The Guardian

I have survived up to now.

Science Magazine

Total throughput amounts to 270 kg Pu up to now.

Chemical Engineering Science

The results described up to now pertain to the deg.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

Most patients described up to now had consanguine parents.

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

Only one case has been reported up to now [ 51].

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to now" to emphasize a contrast between past and present situations or conditions. For example, "Up to now, the project has been successful, but we anticipate future challenges."

Common error

Avoid using "up to now" when referring to a specific point in the past. This phrase always implies a connection to the present. For instance, instead of saying "Up to now, the company was profitable in 2010", say "Until 2010, the company was profitable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating a time period from the past extending to the present. Ludwig provides examples where it's used to describe actions or states that have persisted until the current moment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up to now" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to denote a period extending from the past to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, particularly in science and news media. While phrases like "until now" or "to date" can serve as alternatives, "up to now" effectively emphasizes the link between past events and the current situation. It's important to use it correctly to avoid temporal confusion, ensuring the timeframe accurately reflects the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Until now

Replaces "up to" with "until", maintaining the same temporal boundary.

To date

A more concise and formal way of saying "up to now".

So far

Indicates a duration from a point in the past to the present.

Thus far

A slightly more formal alternative to "so far".

Until the present

Emphasizes the endpoint of the time period as the present moment.

Up until this point

A more explicit and emphatic version of "up to now".

As of now

Highlights the current moment as the reference point.

Hitherto

A more archaic and formal synonym.

Previously

Focuses on past events before the current moment.

In the past

General reference to a time before the present.

FAQs

How can I use "Up to now" in a sentence?

"Up to now" indicates a period extending from the past to the present. For example, "Up to now, we have focused on developing the core features of the software."

What are some alternatives to "Up to now"?

You can use phrases like "until now", "to date", or "so far" as alternatives to "up to now", depending on the context.

Is "Up to now" formal or informal?

"Up to now" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, "to date" or "thus far" might be preferred.

What is the difference between "Up to now" and "In the past"?

"Up to now" implies a continuing relevance to the present, while "in the past" simply refers to a time before now without necessarily connecting to the current situation.