up till now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "up till now" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame that extends from the past up to the present moment. Example: "Up till now, we have not encountered any major issues with the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He cowrote the memoirs Star Trek Memories (1993), Star Trek Movie Memories (1994), and Up Till Now (2008).

Encyclopedia Britannica

That's all we have heard up till now".

The New York Times

In any event, she has hidden it up till now.

The New York Times

Vast amounts of encrypted Internet data which have up till now been discarded are now exploitable".

The New York Times

"Up till now the film business had been a male universe, but that is obviously changing.

The New York Times - Arts

"Up till now the Government has had a very dismissive attitude towards the music industry," the singer told The Independent.

Independent

In the former USSR many people (at any rate, my wife and I) have up till now been celebrating this day as a great festival".

Independent

"Up till now there were no specialized music schools with established systems, hence there was an absolute lack of good musicians".

The New York Times

He said Monday's letter from Genzyme was "not surprising, and continues the approach of the stonewalling that we've seen up till now".

The New York Times

Did their outfits - a brand associated with the country's elite, worn up till now only with irony - signal a return to traditional Britishness?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"At least having the possibility of greater Chinese investment on the table might allow China and Mexico to move beyond their up-till-now quite dysfunctional and competitive relationship," Mr. Ferchen wrote.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up till now" to clearly indicate that a situation has been true from some point in the past until the present moment. This helps to set a temporal context for your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "up till now" interchangeably with phrases that refer only to the past. "Previously" or "before" might be more appropriate if the current state is irrelevant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up till now" functions as an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb or clause by specifying the duration of an action or state from a point in the past to the present moment. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "up till now" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate a time frame extending from the past to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts, although it appears most frequently in news and media. While simpler alternatives like "until now" and "so far" exist, and more formal options like "to date" or "thus far" may be appropriate depending on context, understanding its correct usage ensures clarity and precision in writing. Remember to use it when you need to specify that a situation has been ongoing until the present moment. Misusing it in place of phrases that refer only to the past should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until now

Slightly more concise and common, omitting "up till".

to date

More formal, often used in business or academic contexts.

so far

Emphasizes the progression or accumulation of events.

thus far

Similar to 'so far' but carries a more formal tone.

up to the present

More explicit, highlighting the timeframe reaching the current moment.

until this point

Highlights a specific moment in time as the cutoff.

before now

Simple and direct, but can sound slightly less polished.

until the present time

Very formal and emphasizes the entire period leading to now.

hitherto

Archaic and formal, less common in modern usage.

previously

Focuses on past events, less emphasis on the present.

FAQs

What's a simpler way to say "up till now"?

You can use simpler alternatives like "until now" or "so far". They convey the same meaning with fewer words.

Is it okay to start a sentence with "up till now"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with "up till now". It functions as an adverbial phrase, setting the temporal context for the rest of the sentence.

How does "up till now" compare to "in the past"?

"Up till now" implies a continuous state or action from a point in the past to the present. "In the past" simply refers to something that occurred at some undefined time before now, without the implication of continuity.

What are some more formal alternatives to "up till now"?

For formal writing, consider using alternatives like "to date" or "thus far". These options provide a more sophisticated tone.