has been until now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been until now" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a situation or condition has persisted up to the present moment. Example: "The project has been until now a success, but we need to address some recent challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Well, suddenly they do, and in what has been until now a nigh-desert for entertainment.

Independent

Hadreas's music is aggressive in conception but often gentle in execution — or has been until now.

The New Yorker

Nadella pleases ValueAct – see this enthusiastic statement today – which has been until now Microsoft's biggest critic.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's not surprising that Instagram is deviating from what has been, until now, a relentless focus on photos.

The New Yorker

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet It's not surprising that Instagram is deviating from what has been, until now, a relentless focus on photos.

The New Yorker

Paul Simon's "Graceland" has been, until now, the working definition of Upper West Side Soweto, but twenty-somethings must be making rougher and stranger music, right?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

The algorithms that solve a fault tree have been until now serial.

Structural Safety

"I want to be a much better president than I have been until now".

The Guardian

Slot machines and blackjack tables have been, until now, alien concepts.

The New York Times

I have to keep fighting and pushing as hard as I have been until now.

BBC

Their organizers and members have been, until now, largely absent from the history of the American Communist movement.

Johns Hopkins University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been until now" to clearly indicate a shift or change in a situation, contrasting the past with the present. This helps highlight the impact of the change and provide context for current conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "has been until now" when the context already implies a recent change. Redundancy can weaken your writing. Instead, opt for simpler phrasing like "recently" or "previously" if the timeframe is already clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been until now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a duration or state that existed up to the present moment. It serves to highlight a change or contrast between a past situation and the current one, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

27%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been until now" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that a situation or condition existed up to the present, often implying a recent change. It's grammatically correct and widely used, as confirmed by Ludwig, with a neutral tone that suits various contexts, including news, academic writing, and scientific reports. While common, writers should be mindful of potential redundancy and consider simpler alternatives like "previously" or "until recently" when the context already implies a shift.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until this moment

Emphasizes the specific point in time when the change occurred.

up until this point

Rephrasing that emphasizes the duration leading to the present.

prior to this

Emphasizes the state or condition before the current one.

until recently

Highlights the recency of the change.

thus far

Indicates a situation's continuation up to the present.

previously

Single word replacement, indicating a state before the present.

as of late

Focuses on the immediate past leading up to the present.

in the past

General reference to a time before now.

in earlier times

Indicates a time significantly before the present.

heretofore

A more formal and literary equivalent.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has been until now" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "heretofore", "prior to this", or "up until this point". These options provide a similar meaning with a more elevated style.

What's a simpler way to say "has been until now"?

You can often replace "has been until now" with shorter, more direct options like "previously" or "until recently", depending on the specific context. These alternatives maintain clarity while reducing wordiness.

Is it always necessary to include "has been until now" in a sentence?

No, not always. If the context already implies a change or a situation leading up to the present, using "has been until now" might be redundant. Assess whether the phrase adds essential clarity or if it can be omitted without losing meaning.

What is the difference between "has been until now" and "used to be"?

"Has been until now" emphasizes a situation that persisted up to the present, whereas "used to be" simply describes a past state without necessarily implying a recent change. Consider: "The policy has been until now effective, but changes are needed" versus "The building "used to be" a factory". The first highlights a recent shift; the second simply states a past condition.