up to a maximum of

USAGE SUMMARY

"up to a maximum of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a limited or maximum amount of something. For example, "You are allowed to borrow a maximum of three books from the library, up to a maximum of two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fines are $7/day, up to a maximum of $50.00.

Columbia University

That number goes up to a maximum of $41,484.

The Washington Post

The fees amount to $2.50 per flight segment, up to a maximum of $10 a ticket.

The New York Times - Travel

Payday lenders offer short-term loans to borrowers, typically up to a maximum of £1,000.

The Guardian - Money

The challenge is to write a crime story up to a maximum of 1000 words.

The Guardian - Books

The Bursary is worth up to a maximum of £3,000 in total.

The Guardian

The credit would be $200 a child, up to a maximum of $500 for a family.

The New York Times

Partly disabled recipients would collect also that benefit, up to a maximum of $262,000.

The New York Times

"It could go up to a maximum of eight milligrams," said the official, Bob Thaxton.

The New York Times

Be concise - up to a maximum of twelve pages single-spaced 12-point text.

University of California, Berkeley

Students may request travel awards up to a maximum of $6,000.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to a maximum of" when you want to clearly specify an upper limit, leaving no ambiguity about potential exceedance. For example, "The grant provides funding up to a maximum of $5000".

Common error

Avoid phrases like "maximum of up to", as "maximum" already implies an upper limit. Instead, stick to "up to a maximum of" or simply "a maximum of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to a maximum of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies nouns or noun phrases by setting an upper limit. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase accurately conveys limitations. Examples from Ludwig show its application in diverse contexts like financial limits and size restrictions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

31%

Science

36%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up to a maximum of" is a versatile phrase used to specify an upper limit. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across contexts like academia, news, and science. To use it effectively, remember to avoid redundancy and choose concise alternatives like "at most" when appropriate. The phrase exhibits a neutral register, making it suitable for various writing styles. Its widespread presence in authoritative sources underlines its reliability for clear and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to a ceiling of

Replaces "maximum" with "ceiling", implying a metaphorical upper boundary.

with a maximum of

Slightly rephrases to put emphasis on the maximum value itself.

not exceeding

Emphasizes that the limit should not be surpassed.

to a maximum of

Starts the phrase with "to", emphasizing directionality towards the maximum.

limited to

Highlights the restriction to a specific upper bound.

reaching a maximum of

Focuses on the act of reaching the highest point.

capped at

Implies a formal or enforced limit.

peaking at

Suggests the highest point achieved within a fluctuating range.

at most

Offers a more concise way to express the upper limit.

up to

A shorter version omitting "a maximum of", still implying a limit.

FAQs

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

Use "up to a maximum of" to specify the highest permissible limit. For example, "Each participant can contribute up to a maximum of three entries."

What's a shorter way to say "up to a maximum of"?

You can often use "at most" or "up to" as concise alternatives depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "maximum of up to"?

Yes, saying "maximum of up to" is redundant. Prefer "up to a maximum of" or just "a maximum of".

What's the difference between "up to a maximum of" and "exceeding"?

"Up to a maximum of" indicates the highest permissible limit, while "exceeding" implies surpassing that limit. They are opposite in meaning.