second up to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "second up to" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It is unclear in meaning and does not have a widely accepted usage in English. Example: "He finished second up to the champion in the race." (This may not convey the intended meaning clearly.)

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

IAN POWELL inched his sleek blue car, Split Second, up to the starting line.

The New York Times

Red Dwarf's rude run of form lasted five fairly untouchable seasons, from the second up to and including the sixth.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

With Google Fiber, people can surf the internet at a speed of one gigabit per second, up to 100 times faster than existing broadband services.

The Guardian - Tech

In the second, up to 10 million health care workers, police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians will be offered the vaccine.

The New York Times

High frequency millimetre waves can theoretically transmit gigabits of data every second, up to 40 times more than today's 4G LTE systems.

The Guardian - Tech

In the first category, all teaching jobs can be religiously-tested, while in the second up to one-fifth of the teaching posts may be subject to religious scrutiny.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

First up: to make Australia great we have to learn from the greats.

The Guardian - Opinion

But first up to the microphone (after some amazing ravioli) seemed to be the Hillary hardliners.

The Guardian - Opinion

Who was going to be the first up to buy a round then?

The Guardian - Sport

Brilliant – it makes it easy to make presentations up-to-the-second up to date.

TechCrunch

"I gained 1.8 seconds up to then.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "second up to", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to a position in a sequence or a limit in measurement. Clarity is key due to potential ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "second up to" when a clearer alternative like "runner-up to" or "second to" would more directly convey the intended meaning of sequential order or ranking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second up to" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb. It indicates a limit, range, or position in a sequence, as seen in the Ludwig examples. Its precise role depends on the sentence structure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "second up to" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a range, limit, or position in sequence. While not grammatically incorrect, its usage is relatively uncommon and can sometimes be ambiguous. Ludwig AI suggests that it appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. Several more common alternatives are available, such as "up to", "ranging up to", or simply rephrasing for clarity. When clarity matters most, using one of these alternatives may prove to be beneficial to the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reaching the second

Highlights the act of attaining a specific point. This focuses on achievement or arrival.

ranging up to the second

Specifies a range with an upper limit. More precise for describing a span.

up to the second

Emphasizes being current or timely, focusing on a precise moment or latest update, more about timeliness.

extending up to the second

Focuses on the extent or reach of something. This suggests a physical or conceptual expansion.

as far as the second

Highlights a limit or boundary reached in a sequence or measurement. This shifts the emphasis to defining a limit.

until the second

Indicates a duration or period leading to a specific point in time, stressing the temporal aspect.

leading up to the second

Indicates a progression or series of events culminating in a specific point, emphasizing the process.

through the second

Implies traversing or covering a range up to a defined point. It focuses on movement or progression.

from the second onward

Stresses a starting point in time and continuation thereafter. Highlights a temporal shift.

immediately before the second

Specifies the point just prior to a given moment. More precise about position in time.

FAQs

How can I use "second up to" in a sentence?

You can use "second up to" to indicate a range or limit, as in "Download speeds jumped from the standard megabit-or-so per second "up to" anywhere from 3 to 9 megabits per second".

What does "second up to" mean?

The meaning of "second up to" can vary depending on the context. It can refer to a position in a sequence or indicate a maximum limit, as shown in the provided examples.

Which is a better phrase to use: "second up to" or "second to"?

While "second up to" is used in some contexts, "second to" is generally clearer and more widely understood when indicating a runner-up or a subsequent position in a sequence.

What are some alternatives to "second up to"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "second up to" include ""up to"", "as far as", "ranging up to", or rephrasing to use "second to" if referring to a position.