nothing until now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nothing until now" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there has been no occurrence or action prior to the present moment. Example: "I had no idea about the project details; it was nothing until now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"In Whalley they've had all the army, the police and all the PR, but here there's been nothing – until now.

The Guardian

Miriam González Durántez, the wife of Nick Clegg, has revealed she is the author of an anonymous food blog, about which Liberal Democrat aides knew nothing until now.

The Guardian

For years, internal audits have raised concerns about the management and oversight of federal grants, but nothing until now has prompted the government to question the wisdom behind the programs.

The New York Times

I'm now 34, but apart from mild and temporary spikes of interest when I cuddle someone else's toddler, there has been nothing – until now, with the panicked yearning that overtakes me as I keep my grandfather company in hospital.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Lord Hodge said he had done nothing until now because he did not want to hinder the process of Rangers seeking a creditors voluntary agreement (CVA).

BBC

Google Analytics already included data on mobile traffic, but nothing until now that was specific to app developers, so Wang expects that this could bring the product to a big new audience.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Finally, people have questioned why I didn't remove the blogpost and why I have said nothing more until now.

The Guardian

"It seems to me that an ordinary sensible reader could conclude both that Caplin now has a financial motive to spill the beans, and that she may do so, even though she has said nothing up until now," Sharp said.

The Guardian

And it's truly amazing, if not a little creepy, to see all of this data about a part of your existence that you've known nothing about until now.

The New York Times - Tech

Since taking over the case last summer, Mr. Trump's lawyers have urged a strategy of restraint, in which the president avoids discussing Mr. Mueller or criticizing him, and the lawyers had done nothing publicly until now that could agitate the special counsel's team.

The New York Times

The project came to nothing and until now the cinema's direct confrontations with the play have been limited to Disney's 1953 cartoon (described at the time by The Observer's film critic CA Lejeune as 'a painful travesty'), and a sad Disney animated sequel last year.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nothing until now" to clearly indicate that a situation or action is unprecedented and has only just begun or become relevant. This emphasizes the novelty or recent change.

Common error

While acceptable, "nothing until now" can sound less formal than alternatives like "no prior action taken" or "hitherto, nothing". Choose the phrasing that best suits your audience and context to maintain a consistent tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing until now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a point in time after which something begins or becomes relevant. This usage aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase being usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nothing until now" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to emphasize a change or new development that has occurred only recently. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. While generally neutral in register, it's best to consider the context and audience to ensure the appropriate level of formality. It's a useful way to indicate that a situation or lack of action has persisted up to the present, highlighting the significance of the current change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nothing before this moment

Replaces "until now" with a more explicit temporal reference.

no prior action taken

Focuses on the absence of previous action.

previously, nothing

Inverts the order for emphasis.

up to the present, nothing

Uses "up to the present" instead of "until now".

hitherto, nothing

Replaces "until now" with the more formal "hitherto".

no information available until now

Emphasizes the lack of available information.

no prior occurrence

Highlights the absence of previous events.

no action until this point

Specifies "this point" for clarity.

everything changed now

Focuses on the change in the current moment.

no developments until now

Highlights lack of developments.

FAQs

How can I use "nothing until now" in a sentence?

You can use "nothing until now" to indicate that a particular event or action has not occurred before the present moment. For example, "We had received no support "until now", but that's about to change."

What can I say instead of "nothing until now"?

You can use alternatives like "no prior action taken", "no information available "until now"", or "hitherto, nothing" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "nothing until now"?

Yes, the phrase "nothing until now" is grammatically correct and understandable. It is used to convey that something has not happened or existed before the present moment.

How does the phrase "nothing until now" differ from "nothing before"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of prior existence, "nothing until now" implies a more recent point of change or beginning. "Nothing before" is a more general statement about the absence of something in the past.