up to a limit of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "up to a limit of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when specifying a maximum amount or threshold in various contexts, such as financial limits, quantities, or restrictions. Example: "The company will reimburse travel expenses up to a limit of $500."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The museum later made clear that the Breman is not a paid advertiser of Google, but in fact it receives a grant for free advertising from Google via its ad grants programme, which enables charitable and educational organisations like museums to apply to Google for free advertising to drive awareness and promote educational messages, up to a limit of $10,000 a month.

The Guardian - Tech

WPA's shared responsibility plan leaves the patient to pick up 25 per cent of any claim, up to a limit of between £500 and £5,000 a year.

Independent

So, for example, in Greece abortions can be carried out on demand up to a limit of 12 weeks.

The Guardian

Those who fail to repay in time incur further days of interest up to a limit of 60 days – or 60% on their original loan.

The Guardian

Under Phase 2 of the EUETS, which runs from 2008 to 2012, countries are allowed to auction their allowances, up to a limit of 10%.

The Guardian - Opinion

Under this, the Bank of England would provide the central bank with pounds in exchange for euros up to a limit of £10 billion.

The New York Times

Countries would be allowed to issue jointly guaranteed ("blue") bonds but only up to a limit of 60% of their GDP.

The Economist

Trevor Fetter, Mr Barbakow's successor at Tenet Healthcare, was granted two shares in the company for every one that he purchased, up to a limit of 200,000.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

No mortalities or adverse effects were observed in mice when AAD-12 was tested up to a limit dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight.

Food and Chemical Toxicology

CXR and CT findings correlate up to a limit in terms of interstitial involvement and consolidation as well as bilateral and multilobar involvement.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

CXR and CT findings correlate up to a limit in terms of interstitial involvement but not in high percentages in other findings.

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "up to a limit of", ensure that the context clearly defines what is being limited. For instance, "reimbursement is available up to a limit of $100" is clearer than "reimbursement is available up to a limit".

Common error

Avoid using "up to a limit of" without specifying the units or context of the limit. For example, instead of saying "data can be stored up to a limit", specify "data can be stored up to a limit of 10GB".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to a limit of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb. As indicated by Ludwig, it indicates a maximum or upper boundary for a particular quantity or action, as showcased in the provided examples where it's used to specify financial limits, time constraints, and other restrictions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up to a limit of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to specify a maximum value or threshold across various contexts. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears very commonly in both news and scientific publications, as well as formal business documentation. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines what is being limited to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include phrases such as "not exceeding", "capped at", and "limited to", offering flexibility in writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not exceeding

Emphasizes the maximum value that is permissible; less focus on the concept of a hard cap.

capped at

Directly specifies an upper boundary or restriction.

with a ceiling of

Focuses on the highest permissible level, potentially indicating a formal constraint.

limited to

Stresses the restriction placed on a value or quantity.

maximum of

Highlights the highest attainable value.

no more than

Expresses a restriction, indicating a value cannot exceed a specific amount.

restricted to

Emphasizes confinement within certain boundaries.

at most

Indicates that a value cannot be larger than a specified amount, suggesting a potential range.

peaking at

Implies that the described item rises and falls and that the highest point that it reaches is the value specified.

going as high as

Indicates that something gets as high as the value described; it's more informal.

FAQs

How can I use "up to a limit of" in a sentence?

You can use "up to a limit of" to specify the maximum value or quantity allowed in a particular situation. For example, "The grant will cover expenses "up to a limit of" $5,000."

What are some alternatives to "up to a limit of"?

Some alternatives to "up to a limit of" include "not exceeding", "capped at", or "limited to", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "up to a limit of" and "not exceeding"?

While both phrases indicate a maximum, "up to a limit of" explicitly states that there is a predefined limit, whereas "not exceeding" simply specifies that a value should not go over a certain amount.

Can "up to a limit of" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "up to a limit of" is suitable for formal writing. However, you can also consider alternatives like "with a ceiling of" for a more formal tone.