however so far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however so far" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to combine "however" and "so far," but they serve different functions in a sentence. Example: "The project has faced several challenges; however, we have made significant progress so far."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, so far progress remained behind expectation.

Advances in Genetics

However, so far no samples have tested positive for FMD.

The Veterinary Journal

However, so far, no consensus for stool collection protocol exists.

Clinical Biochemistry

However, so far little has emerged from this approach.

Drug Discovery Today

However, so far, we have yet to receive an application".

The Guardian

Mr. Mudd, however, so far has the support of Fortress.

The New York Times

However, so far no rival bids have emerged.

Independent

However, so far the students have refused to move.

The Guardian

However, so far its applicability is limited to steady state concentrations of the tracer.

Geoderma

However, so far the expected supply response has yet to emerge.

Food Policy

However, so far there has been no direct experimental method to measure these two values.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "however so far" in formal writing. Instead, separate "however" and "so far" into distinct clauses or use a more grammatically correct alternative such as "however, thus far" or "nevertheless, up to this point."

Common error

Don't blend the functions of "however" (a contrastive adverb) and "so far" (a temporal phrase) into a single unit. Ensure each component serves its grammatical role distinctly within the sentence for clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however so far" attempts to combine a contrastive conjunction with a temporal adverbial phrase. However, this combination is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as not conveying a clear meaning in written English. Correct usage requires separating "however" and "so far" into distinct clauses.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "however so far" appears frequently across diverse sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. The phrase attempts to combine the contrasting function of "however" with the temporal aspect of "so far", but this blend results in an unclear and grammatically unsound expression. The high occurrence mainly comes from science and news outlets. To maintain clarity and correctness in writing, it's advisable to separate these elements into distinct clauses or opt for alternatives like "however, thus far" or "nevertheless, up to this point". These alternatives accurately convey the intended meaning while adhering to standard grammatical conventions. Always prioritize grammatical precision, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but thus far

A more concise and common alternative, using "thus far" to indicate the time frame.

however, until now

Directly indicates a change or contrast from the past to the present.

yet at this stage

Highlights the current state in contrast to potential future developments.

nonetheless, to date

Similar in formality to "nevertheless", emphasizing the current point in time.

nevertheless up to this point

Offers a more formal and emphatic contrast, focusing on the entirety of the preceding period.

even so, up till now

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the contrast, given the preceding information.

despite this, until the present time

More verbose, adding emphasis to the continuous nature of the preceding period.

that said, to this moment

Offers a conversational contrast, focusing on the present situation.

for all that, so far

Acknowledges previous points while highlighting current limitations.

be that as it may, up to now

A formal and somewhat archaic way of acknowledging previous points before introducing a contrast.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "however" and "so far" in the same sentence?

Separate "however" and "so far" into distinct clauses. For example, "The project has faced several challenges; "however", we have made significant progress "so far"."

What are some alternatives to the incorrect phrase "however so far"?

You can use alternatives like "however, thus far", "nevertheless, up to this point", or "yet at this stage", depending on the context.

Is "however so far" grammatically correct?

No, "however so far" is generally considered grammatically "incorrect". It's a miscombination of conjunctive adverbs and temporal phrases. Ludwig AI also considers it incorrect.

When should I use "however" and when should I use "so far"?

"However" is used to introduce a "contrast" or contradiction. "So far" is used to indicate a situation up to the present moment. Combine them carefully to avoid grammatical errors.