best so far

USAGE SUMMARY

"best so far" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an item or situation that is the most satisfactory or preferable out of multiple items or situations that have been experienced or observed. For example, "This is the best project idea we've come up with so far."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

"He's been the best so far.

The Washington Post

What has worked best so far?

The Guardian - Tech

But this season's ratings are the best so far.

The New York Times

The best so far, though, has been Elizabeth is Missing.

The Guardian - Books

The last British Art Show was the best so far.

The Guardian - Arts

The lizards have been the best so far.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

2026: Five minutes to go until half-time and Arsenal have been second-best so far.

BBC

The I-ABC introduces the best-so-far solution, inertia weight and acceleration coefficients to modify the search process.

AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications

However, the exploitation phase of the CBO is weak due to not using a memory for saving the best-so-far solution in its formulation.

Advances in Engineering Software

After that, we implemented UCR-DTW for best-so-far search of each pattern set over Dataset 1 and recorded the best-so-far value of every pattern.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

The two methods have the same best-so-far values in the nine remaining cases.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "best so far" to highlight a current achievement or preference, implying that future improvements or changes are possible. This is useful in progress reports or evaluations.

Common error

Avoid using "best so far" when you intend to convey that something is unequivocally the best, without any possibility of future improvements. In such cases, opt for absolute superlatives like "the best" or "the ultimate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "best so far" functions as a superlative adjective phrase. According to Ludwig, it identifies something as superior within a limited scope or timeframe. It modifies a noun, indicating that it is the most excellent or successful among comparable items up to the present moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "best so far" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the current superlative status of something, with the understanding that this status may be surpassed in the future. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While suitable for general use, consider more formal alternatives like "finest to date" or "greatest thus far" in professional or academic settings. Avoid using it when you intend to convey an absolute superlative. Remember, the phrase is most effective when highlighting progress or benchmarking achievements, leaving room for future improvements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finest to date

Replaces "best" with "finest" and "so far" with "to date", slightly formalizing the tone.

greatest thus far

Substitutes "best" with "greatest" and "so far" with "thus far", adding a touch of formality.

topmost until now

Replaces "best" with "topmost" and "so far" with "until now", emphasizing the current leading position.

leading at this stage

Changes the focus to the current leading position, using "at this stage" instead of "so far".

premier up to this point

Replaces "best" with "premier" and "so far" with "up to this point", suggesting a high level of quality.

most exceptional yet

Substitutes "best" with "most exceptional" and "so far" with "yet", highlighting the outstanding nature.

unrivaled as of now

Changes "best" to "unrivaled" and "so far" to "as of now", emphasizing the lack of competition currently.

optimal in the interim

Replaces "best" with "optimal" and "so far" with "in the interim", focusing on temporary suitability.

superior until the present

Substitutes "best" with "superior" and "so far" with "until the present", accentuating a higher quality over time.

foremost in the meantime

Changes "best" to "foremost" and "so far" to "in the meantime", indicating a leading position temporarily.

FAQs

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

You can use "best so far" to indicate that something is the most successful or preferred option up to the current time. For example, "This quarter's sales are our "best so far"".

What's a more formal alternative to "best so far"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "finest to date" or "greatest thus far". These alternatives add a touch of sophistication while maintaining the same core meaning.

Is it correct to use "best so far" in academic writing?

Yes, "best so far" is acceptable in academic writing, especially when discussing progressive results or interim findings. However, ensure that it aligns with the overall tone and formality of your piece. Consider using more formal alternatives if necessary.

How does "best so far" differ from "the best"?

"Best so far" implies a possibility of future improvements or changes, while "the best" suggests an absolute and possibly permanent state of being. Using "best so far" acknowledges that there is room for further advancement or that the current ""best so far"" might be surpassed.