has worked so far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has worked so far" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been effective or successful up to the present moment. Example: "The new marketing strategy has worked so far, leading to an increase in sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Nothing has worked so far".

Independent

The rhetoric has worked, so far.

The New York Times

It has worked so far.

The Guardian - Film

The strategy has worked so far.

The Guardian - Film

The formula has worked so far.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The plan has worked, so far.

The New York Times

The reliance on native ads has worked so far.

The New York Times

This is how Catton has worked, so far.

The Guardian

It is a cynical calculation that has worked so far.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"The families keep their eyes on the only thing that has worked so far Caracas," says León Valencia, a former guerrilla who is now a political analyst.

The Economist

Few people took the bait, and Apple got the message: Stick to what has worked so far making incremental improvements to its machines over time.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "has worked so far" with a 'but' clause to introduce a note of caution or anticipation about future outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "has worked so far" repeatedly without providing context or analysis. Overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive and lacking in depth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has worked so far" functions as an evaluative expression. It assesses the effectiveness or success of a particular action, strategy, or method up to the present moment. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has worked so far" is a versatile expression used to evaluate the success or effectiveness of something up to the present moment. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it implies a degree of uncertainty about future outcomes. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is clear and consider including a 'but' clause to add nuance. Remember to avoid overuse and, when possible, consider alternatives like "has been successful thus far" or "has proven effective to date" to vary your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been successful thus far

Replaces "worked" with "been successful" and "so far" with "thus far", maintaining the same meaning.

has proven effective to date

Substitutes "worked" with "proven effective" and "so far" with "to date", offering a more formal tone.

has been effective until now

Uses "been effective" instead of "worked" and replaces "so far" with "until now", emphasizing the present moment.

has achieved results up to this point

Replaces "worked" with "achieved results" and "so far" with "up to this point", focusing on the outcomes achieved.

has delivered as expected thus far

Emphasizes the fulfillment of expectations, changing the focus slightly from pure success to meeting anticipated outcomes.

has shown promise up until now

Highlights the potential for future success based on current performance, adding an element of anticipation.

has held up well until today

Implies resilience and stability over time, rather than just general effectiveness.

has maintained its effectiveness thus far

Focuses on the continuation of effectiveness, suggesting ongoing success.

is still going strong

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey continued success and momentum.

remains effective at the present time

A formal alternative highlighting the ongoing effectiveness at this moment.

FAQs

How can I use "has worked so far" in a sentence?

Use "has worked so far" to indicate that a particular method, strategy, or approach has been successful up to the present time. For example, "The new marketing strategy "has worked so far", leading to increased sales."

What are some alternatives to "has worked so far"?

You can use alternatives such as "has been successful thus far", "has proven effective to date", or "has been effective until now" depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it correct to say "had worked so far" instead of "has worked so far"?

The choice between "had worked so far" and "has worked so far" depends on the timeline you're describing. "Has worked so far" implies the success continues to the present, while "had worked so far" refers to a past period. For example, "The strategy had worked so far, but then circumstances changed."

What does it mean when someone says something "has worked so far"?

It means that whatever they're referring to has been successful or effective up to the current point in time. It often implies a degree of uncertainty about whether it will continue to be successful in the future.