Up to this point

USAGE SUMMARY

"Up to this point" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to what has happened, been accomplished, or been discussed to the present moment. For example, "Up to this point, the committee has reviewed five potential projects for the upcoming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Frankly, their silence up to this point had felt worrying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And they've had decent pitching up to this point.

The New York Times

World markets have, up to this point, been relatively sanguine.

The New Yorker

This has certainly helped up to this point.

The Economist

Every Cameron assumption up to this point has been wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

She'd had an easy ride up to this point.

The New Yorker

(The pie can be made up to this point up to 48 hours in advance).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Anything up to this point was leading up to this, I think".

The New York Times - Sports

(Sauce may be prepared up to this point, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days).

The New York Times - Food

Other than that, this is as good as we can do up to this point.

The New York Times - Sports

"Everything that I've done up to this point has helped me in this particular moment".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to this point" to clearly delineate a period of time leading to the present, especially when summarizing or drawing conclusions based on past events.

Common error

Be precise about the timeframe you're referencing. Avoid using "up to this point" when the context doesn't clearly establish a starting point or a specific duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to this point" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates a temporal boundary, specifying that something is true or has occurred until the present moment. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

26%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Up to this point" is a common and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate a temporal boundary, referring to events, actions, or conditions leading up to the present moment. Ludwig's analysis reveals it has a neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts including news, science, and general writing. The phrase is frequently used to summarize information or draw conclusions based on past events. While alternatives like "until now" or "so far" exist, "up to this point" offers a slightly more formal and conclusive tone. As demonstrated by Ludwig's extensive examples, this phrase is a versatile and reliable tool for writers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Up until now

Adds a slight emphasis on the period immediately preceding the present.

So far

A more concise and common way of expressing the same idea.

Until now

Focuses more on the duration leading to the present, rather than a specific moment.

Thus far

Emphasizes progress made up to the current time.

To date

Highlights the current date as the endpoint of a process.

Until the present time

A more verbose but explicit way to convey the same meaning.

As of now

Focuses specifically on the current moment and the state of things.

To this stage

Emphasizes progress in stages or phases, leading to the present.

Hitherto

A more formal and less frequently used alternative.

Previously

Indicates a time before the present, but without the sense of culmination.

FAQs

How can I use "up to this point" in a sentence?

Use "up to this point" to summarize actions, events, or conditions that have occurred until the present moment. For example, "Up to this point, the project has been successful".

What are some alternatives to saying "up to this point"?

You can use alternatives like "until now", "thus far", or "so far" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "up to this point" or "so far"?

"Up to this point" is generally considered slightly more formal than "so far", but both are acceptable in many contexts. The best choice depends on the overall tone and style of your writing.

What's the difference between "up to this point" and "until now"?

"Up to this point" often implies a summary or conclusion based on what has happened, while "until now" simply indicates a duration leading to the present. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the summary aspect or just the time frame.