always so far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "always so far" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that something has consistently been the case up to the present moment, but it is not a common expression. Example: "The project has always so far met our expectations, but we need to remain vigilant."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Mr. Johansson is not always so far ahead of the curve.

The New York Times

And the gothic is not always so far removed from real life as we like to think.

The Economist

So little has changed; or to put it another way, Silvy is always so far in advance.

The Guardian - Arts

When I was small, Formula One was always so far away, and to race against these drivers was so far away.

The New York Times - Sports

"Our leaders are always so far away," said a student from Nanjing who got close enough to Ma to shake his hand.

The Washington Post

A young guide, whom I can't describe simply because he was always so far ahead of us, led us into the unknown.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"Bruce is someone we always wanted, but he has always seemed so far away from us," she says.

The Guardian - Music

It always has—so far.

The Economist

But "someday" always seemed so far away.

The New York Times

Why is it always thrown so far back?

Independent

It always seemed so far away and so hard.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "always so far", consider whether a more common phrase like "up to now" or "thus far" might be clearer and more readily understood by your audience. Context is essential; ensure the phrase's slightly unconventional nature fits your writing style.

Common error

Avoid using "always so far" in highly formal writing or academic papers. Opt for more standard phrases like "to date" or "until now" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "always so far" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the duration and extent to which a certain condition or action has persisted. Ludwig AI identifies its usage, albeit not as frequently as other similar constructs.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically acceptable, the phrase "always so far" is an uncommon construction in English, often replaceable by clearer alternatives such as "up to now" or "thus far". Ludwig AI helps highlight the phrase's usage across various contexts, especially in news and media, but also underscores its relative infrequency compared to its alternatives. Though technically correct, writers should consider audience understanding and opt for more common phrases in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

always very far

Emphasizes the extent of the distance, both literally and figuratively.

forever so far

Highlights the seemingly endless nature of the distance or separation.

always thus far

Indicates a situation that has been true up to the present moment.

consistently so far

Focuses on the repeated or unbroken nature of the situation up to now.

always too far

Expresses that something exceeds the limit.

always so distant

Highlights the lack of connection or closeness.

up to this point

Indicates progression until this point.

until now

Indicates progression until now.

so far

Shorter, more common way to express progression until now.

to date

A formal way to say until now.

FAQs

What does "always so far" mean?

The phrase "always so far" means that something has been the case consistently up to the present moment. However, it's not a very common or standard phrase in English.

What can I say instead of "always so far"?

You can use alternatives like "up to now", "thus far", or "to date" depending on the context.

Is "always so far" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "always so far" is an unconventional phrasing. It's more common to use simpler alternatives like "so far" or "until now".

How can I use "always so far" in a sentence?

You might say, "The project has "always so far" met our expectations," though it would be clearer to say, "The project has met our expectations "up to now"" or "So far, the project has met our expectations."