up to december

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'up to December' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time that is complete up to the month of December. For example: "We haven't seen any rain since August, up to December."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

We'll have new giveaways each week leading up to December 16.

TechCrunch

We report the functional benefits achieved over a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years (range 4 13 years), up to December 31st, 2013.

Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery

Cohort subjects were followed up to December 31, 2007 for CRC incidence and up to December 31, 2005 for CRC death, to account for delays in ascertaining cause of death.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

We queried the RPDR database over the time period from January 1st 2005 up to December 31st, 2007.

BMC Health Services Research

Suddenly convinced that other states would follow, the legislature moved the secession convention up to December.

The New York Times - Books

But we had a difficult time up to December so that didn't help him".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It was originally slated for a February 1993 release, but the date was later moved up to December 1992.

Wikipedia

Studies published (including early e-publication) up to December 2007 were included.

Plosone

The status of all individuals residing in California and Hawaii was ascertained up to December 31 , 2003

Plosone

Articles published up to December 2005 were considered.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The cohort was established beginning in January 1990 and followed up to December 2006.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "up to December" in formal writing, ensure the context clearly indicates whether December is included or excluded. If inclusion is critical, consider using "through December" or "until the end of December".

Common error

Avoid using "up to December" when it's unclear whether December itself is part of the period. Be explicit by stating "up to and including December" or rephrasing with "through December" to remove any ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to December" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating a time limit or boundary. It specifies the endpoint of a duration, as seen in Ludwig examples like "followed up to December 2006" and "articles published up to December 2013."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up to December" is a prepositional phrase used to define a time limit or scope that extends until December. Ludwig AI states the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in scientific and news contexts, and while generally neutral in register, it's crucial to ensure clarity regarding whether December itself is included in the specified timeframe. Alternative phrases like "until December" or "through December" can provide greater precision. Always consider the context to avoid ambiguity and ensure the intended meaning is clearly conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until December

Replaces "up to" with "until", indicating a time period extending to December but not necessarily including it.

through December

Indicates that the period extends to the end of December.

ending in December

Focuses on December as the concluding month of a period.

no later than December

Emphasizes December as the latest possible time.

prior to January

Shifts the focus to the month following December, indicating December as the cutoff.

before the end of December

Specifies a deadline within December.

leading up to December

Highlights the period approaching December.

until the close of December

More formal way to say until the end of December

spanning to December

Indicates a period which extends until, and includes, December

terminating in December

A more formal way to say ending in December

FAQs

How do I use "up to December" in a sentence?

Use "up to December" to indicate a period of time that extends until, and possibly including, December. For example, "The data collected "up to December" shows a significant increase in sales."

What phrases can I use instead of "up to December"?

You can use phrases like "until December", "through December", or "no later than December" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "up to and including December"?

Yes, "up to and including December" is grammatically correct and clarifies that December is part of the specified period. This avoids any ambiguity about whether December is included or excluded.

What's the difference between "up to December" and "until December"?

"Up to December" generally implies that December is included, although ambiguity can exist. "Until December" can sometimes exclude December, so clarity is key. If inclusion is important, use "up to and including December".