so far this year

USAGE SUMMARY

"so far this year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about how something has been going, progressing, or developing over the course of the current calendar year. For example, "So far this year, my business has seen a 10% increase in profits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So far this year this ETF is down 8%.

Forbes

That makes two so far this year.

The New York Times

So far this year, 56.5%.

The Guardian

8 so far this year.

The Washington Post

So far this year, $7.6 million has been donated.

The New York Times

Homicides are down 19.5 percent so far this year.

The New York Times

Twelve sisters have died so far this year.

The New York Times

So far this year, the total is $25.9 billion.

The Economist

Ford has earned $6.3 billion so far this year.

The New York Times

So far, this year has been quieter still.

The Economist

So far this year it is running fifth.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so far this year" to provide a progress report or update on a specific metric or activity within the current calendar year. It's useful for comparing current performance against previous periods.

Common error

Avoid using past perfect tense with "so far this year". The phrase implies an ongoing period, so present perfect or simple present is usually more appropriate. For example, prefer "We have achieved" over "We had achieved".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so far this year" functions as an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb or clause by specifying the period from the beginning of the current year until the present moment. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so far this year" is a versatile and commonly used adverbial phrase of time, indicating the period from January 1st to the current date. Its primary function is to provide updates or summaries within the current calendar year. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts, ranging from news reports and business presentations to academic discussions. Its neutral register makes it widely applicable. By understanding its function and usage patterns, writers can effectively incorporate "so far this year" into their writing. Be aware of using the correct tense, and replace the phrase with alternatives in order to enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Up to now this year

Replaces "so far" with "up to now", emphasizing the current moment as the cutoff point.

To date this year

Uses "to date" instead of "so far", providing a more formal tone.

Thus far this year

Employs "thus far" for a slightly more elevated and formal expression.

Until now this year

Focuses on the period leading up to the present, similar to "so far".

In the current year to date

More verbose and formal, specifying "in the current year".

As of today this year

Highlights the present day as the definitive end of the period.

Since the start of this year

Emphasizes the beginning of the year as the starting point.

From January 1st this year

More explicit about the start date of the period being considered.

In the year to present

A more concise way to state the timeframe, though slightly less common.

Over the course of this year thus far

A lengthier and more descriptive alternative to "so far this year".

FAQs

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

Use "so far this year" to indicate cumulative progress or status within the current calendar year. For example, "So far this year, we have launched three new products."

What are some alternatives to saying "so far this year"?

You can use phrases like "to date this year", "thus far this year", or "up to now this year" as alternatives.

Is it correct to say "so far this year, we will achieve"?

While grammatically correct, it's stylistically better to use "so far this year, we expect to achieve" or "so far this year, we are on track to achieve" to convey future expectations based on current progress.

What's the difference between "so far this year" and "last year"?

"So far this year" refers to the period from January 1st to the current date of the present year, while "last year" refers to the entire preceding calendar year.