had so far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had so far" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express an action or situation that has occurred up to a certain point in time. Example: The project had progressed well and we had so far met all of our deadlines.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What success have they had so far?

The Guardian

They are the only multigenerational participants we've had so far.

The New Yorker

What impact has Charity Water had so far?

The New York Times

The house had so far cost about three thousand dollars.

The New Yorker

The Met said no arrests had so far been made.

Independent

By 1887 it had so far degenerated that the N.Y.

The New Yorker

She had had, so far, no serious trouble.

The New Yorker

The battle had so far lasted 24 hours.

Independent

That's the shortest answer we've had so far.

The Washington Post

Of these, only 17.7% had so far been specified.

The Guardian

What's the weirdest business experience you've had so far?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had so far", ensure that the subsequent part of the sentence logically connects to the established timeframe. The phrase sets a temporal boundary, so the following statement should align with it.

Common error

Avoid using "had so far" in contexts that require a simple past tense. This phrase is specifically for indicating actions completed before a certain point in the past, not for general past events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had so far" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, typically in the past perfect tense. It indicates the extent or progress of an action or situation up to a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

20%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had so far" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier, primarily used to indicate the progress of an action or situation up to a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is commonly used across a range of contexts, including news, academic writing, and general narratives. It is important to use "had so far" to provide temporal context and to distinguish it from present-oriented phrases like "has so far". Remember to select appropriate alternatives like "until now" or "thus far" depending on your desired level of formality. The high frequency and broad distribution of "had so far" across authoritative sources confirms its reliability and versatility in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to this point

Emphasizes the progression to the current moment.

until now

Highlights the duration leading to the present.

thus far

Offers a slightly more formal tone while indicating the extent of progress.

to date

Focuses on the accumulated progress up to the present date.

as of yet

Indicates a situation that may change in the future.

hitherto

A more archaic term signifying 'up to this time'.

previously

Focuses on past actions or states without direct connection to the present.

in the past

Broadly refers to prior occurrences.

before now

Highlights the contrast between the past and the present moment.

until the present time

Explicitly states the duration extending to the current moment.

FAQs

How do I use "had so far" in a sentence?

Use "had so far" to describe an action or state that was ongoing or completed before a specific point in the past. For example, "The project "had so far" progressed smoothly when the budget was cut."

What are some alternatives to "had so far"?

You can use phrases like "up to this point", "until now", or "thus far" depending on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is "had so far" appropriate for formal writing?

"Had so far" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, consider using "thus far" as a slightly more elevated alternative.

What's the difference between "had so far" and "has so far"?

"Had so far" refers to a past point of reference, while "has so far" refers to the present. For example, "The team "had so far" completed three milestones by last month," versus "The team has so far completed three milestones this month."