up to now

USAGE SUMMARY

"up to now" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express the idea that something has happened or been true until the present time. For example, "We have been working together up to now and have achieved great success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What is he up to now?

The New York Times

So what's he up to now?

The New York Times

And what was he up to now?

The New Yorker

And what's he up to now?

Independent

Total throughput amounts to 270 kg Pu up to now.

Chemical Engineering Science

They haven't up to now.

The New York Times - Books

What's she up to now?

The Guardian

I have survived up to now.

Science Magazine

The results described up to now pertain to the deg.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

Most patients described up to now had consanguine parents.

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

Only one case has been reported up to now [ 51].

CKJ: Clinical Kidney Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to now" to indicate a situation or action that has been ongoing until the present moment, implying a potential change or continuation in the future.

Common error

Do not use "up to now" in contexts where the timeframe is already clearly implied. For example, avoid saying "Up to now, we have always done it this way, until now" because the repetition of "now" is redundant. Instead, state, "We have always done it this way until now".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a time frame extending from the past to the present. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it specifies the duration of a state, action, or condition.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "up to now" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that describes a time frame from the past to the present. Ludwig confirms its correctness and general applicability. It is suitable for various contexts, from scientific writing to news articles, and implies a potential change or continuation in the future. While alternatives like "until now" or "so far" exist, "up to now" provides a versatile option for expressing duration up to the present moment. Remember to avoid redundancy by ensuring the time frame isn't already explicitly stated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Until now

Replaces "up to" with "until", slightly changing the emphasis on duration.

So far

A more concise way of indicating the present limit of an action or state.

To date

Formal alternative, often used in business or academic writing.

Thus far

Similar to "so far" but with a slightly more formal tone.

Up until this point

More explicit and lengthy, emphasizing a specific moment.

As of yet

Emphasizes that something may change in the future.

Hitherto

An older, more formal term, less common in modern usage.

Previously

Focuses on past actions or conditions, rather than the present.

Until the present time

A more elaborate and emphatic version of "until now".

In the past

General reference to prior times, lacking the specific endpoint.

FAQs

How can I use "up to now" in a sentence?

Use "up to now" to describe actions or situations that have been true until the present. For instance, "Up to now, the project has been successful, but we anticipate challenges ahead".

What phrases are similar to "up to now"?

Similar phrases include "until now", "so far", and "to date". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is "up to now" formal or informal?

"Up to now" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "to date" might be preferable in some situations.

Can "up to now" imply a change in the future?

Yes, "up to now" often implies that a change may occur or is anticipated in the future. For example, "Up to now, we have used this method, but we are considering new approaches" suggests a potential shift.