up to this point

USAGE SUMMARY

"up to this point" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to talk about the progress of something that took place before the present moment. For example, "We have discussed several topics in this meeting up to this point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Up to this point, I'm with Ensler.

The Guardian

** Up to this point the hypo tracks reported facts.

Stanford University

It hasn't worked out that way up to this point.

The New York Times

Up to this point, it hasn't seemed worth the trouble.

The New York Times

Frankly, their silence up to this point had felt worrying.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And they've had decent pitching up to this point.

The New York Times

Up to this point every move had been successful.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Has it been there up to this point?

The New York Times - Sports

Up to this point, they haven't given us any information".

The New York Times

World markets have, up to this point, been relatively sanguine.

The New Yorker

This has certainly helped up to this point.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to this point" to clearly indicate a temporal boundary or a stage in a process that has been reached.

Common error

Don't use "up to this point" when "until now" or "so far" would suffice, especially in informal contexts. Redundancy can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to this point" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating a temporal boundary. Ludwig shows that it typically modifies a verb or clause, specifying the period preceding the current moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Up to this point" is a versatile phrase used to mark a temporal boundary, often indicating the progress or status of something before the present moment. As shown by Ludwig's examples, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. While generally neutral in register, alternatives such as "until now" or "so far" may be more suitable for informal settings. The phrase functions as an adverbial phrase, providing context and setting the stage for subsequent developments. Given its frequency and clear meaning, using "up to this point" is a reliable way to indicate a temporal limit in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up until now

Adds emphasis to the passage of time leading to the present.

up to the present

Emphasizes the continuity leading to the current time.

until now

A more concise and direct way of expressing the same idea.

until this moment

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the specific instant.

so far

A shorter and more common alternative in informal contexts.

thus far

A slightly more formal alternative, often used in written contexts.

to date

Focuses on the present moment as the cutoff point.

before this

A simpler way to indicate a time before the current one.

hitherto

A more archaic and formal way of saying "until now".

previously

Highlights that something happened before the current moment in time.

FAQs

How can I use "up to this point" in a sentence?

You can use "up to this point" to indicate the progress or status of something before the present moment. For example, "Up to this point, the project has been successful".

What is a simple alternative to "up to this point"?

Simpler alternatives include "until now" or "so far". These options are less formal but convey a similar meaning.

Is "up to this point" formal or informal?

"Up to this point" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "thus far" exist.

What's the difference between "up to this point" and "at this point"?

"Up to this point" emphasizes the process or time leading to the present, while "at this point" focuses on the immediate current situation. For example, "Up to this point, we've gathered data; at this point, we begin analysis".