so far

USAGE SUMMARY

"so far" is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate a conclusion that has been reached up to the present point in time. For example, "We have considered ten candidates for the job, so far."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nothing unusual so far.

The Economist

So far, so customary.

Independent

So far, so sassy.

Independent

So far, so excellent.

Independent

All Germany so far.

The New York Times

So far, so polite.

The New York Times - Sports

All clear so far?

The Economist

You've come so far.

The New York Times

So far so dull.

The New York Times

So far, so sensible.

The New York Times

Hers so far hasn't.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so far" to indicate a situation's status up to the present moment, implying that the situation might change in the future.

Common error

While acceptable in most contexts, avoid using "so far" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more sophisticated alternatives like "to date" or "until now" for enhanced precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so far" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a time frame extending up to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usage. For example, "Nothing unusual "so far"." This demonstrates its role in qualifying a statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academic sources

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so far" is a versatile adverbial phrase indicating that a statement holds true up to the present moment, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives might be suitable for academic writing. When you use "so far", remember that you are explicitly saying a certain situation is true until now, without any guarantees it will still be true in the future.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until now

Replaces "so far" with a more direct temporal marker, emphasizing the duration leading to the present.

up to this point

Emphasizes the progression to the current moment, suitable for formal contexts.

as of yet

A slightly more formal alternative to "so far", indicating that something is still possible.

thus far

A more literary and formal substitute for "so far", denoting progression.

to date

Highlights a summary of events leading up to the current date, often used in business contexts.

heretofore

A formal and somewhat archaic term that means "up to this time".

previously

Indicates a state or action that occurred before the present moment, lacking the sense of ongoing evaluation.

until the present time

A more verbose way of saying "so far", adding emphasis on the duration.

in the interim

Focuses on the time between two events, rather than a continuous period up to now.

in the meantime

Similar to 'in the interim', but can also imply that something else is expected to happen later.

FAQs

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

"So far" is typically used to qualify a statement with the understanding that the situation could change. For example, "The project is running smoothly so far." It can also be used to summarize progress: "We've raised $10,000 so far."

What are some alternatives to "so far"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "until now", "up to this point", or "as of yet". Each has slight differences in formality and emphasis.

Is it always necessary to include "so far" in a sentence?

No, it is not always necessary. "So far" is useful when you want to explicitly indicate that the situation is current and could change. If the context implies this already, it can be omitted for conciseness.

Can "so far" be used at the beginning of a sentence?

While less common, "so far" can be used at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis. For example: "So far, the results have been promising." However, it generally flows better when placed in the middle or end of the sentence.