up to this time

USAGE SUMMARY

"up to this time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean the point in time until now. For example, "We have been working on this project up to this time, but now we need to take a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Up to this time John Quincy Adams was regarded as belonging to the Federalist Party, but he found its general policy displeasing.

Britannica

But what is he up to this time?

The New York Times

And what is the Great Intelligence up to this time?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

LONDON — What is Boris Johnson up to this time?

The New York Times

What are Punchdrunk theatre up to this time?

The Times

Up to this time Galland had been in charge of all the fighter units in Germany.

Yale University

Up to this time point, there was a decrease in both groups.

Injury

Up to this time I've had both feet on the ground".

The New Yorker

Up to this time they called themselves Emalangeni, after an ancestral Langa.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Therefore exposure times of up to 48 h were used as limited cytotoxicity was observed up to this time-point.

BMC Genomics

At Fairbanks, the three B-29s encountered significant headwinds; more than the "slight" headwinds observed up to this time.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to this time" to clearly indicate a cutoff point when describing a sequence of events or a change in status. For example, "Up to this time, the company had focused on domestic sales."

Common error

Avoid using "up to this time" when simply referring to the present or future. It's for specifying a duration leading to a specific point. For example, instead of "Up to this time, we will continue to monitor the situation", use "We will continue to monitor the situation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to this time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify a temporal limit or duration. It sets a boundary in the past, indicating the period leading to the present moment. Ludwig examples confirm the role of specifying a moment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "up to this time" functions as an adverbial phrase establishing a temporal boundary that extends from the past until the present moment. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. Alternatives include "until now" and "so far". When using "up to this time", remember that it sets a specific temporal limit; avoid using it when simply referring to the present or future. It's a valuable tool for clarifying the timeline of events and changes. The varied examples, as curated by Ludwig, clearly demonstrate its versatility and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until now

Focuses on the duration leading to the current moment.

so far

Emphasizes the progress made leading to the present.

to date

Highlights the accumulated information or progress until the present date.

thus far

Similar to "so far" but often used in more formal contexts.

hitherto

A more formal and less common synonym for "until now".

up until the present

Explicitly includes the present moment in the duration.

previous to this

Emphasizes what came before the current situation.

before this time

Highlights a comparison between a past period and the present.

in the past

General reference to a period before the present.

formerly

Indicates a state or condition that existed at an earlier time.

FAQs

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

"Up to this time" is used to indicate a period leading to the present moment. For example, "Up to this time, the research has shown promising results."

What phrases are similar in meaning to "up to this time"?

You can use phrases like "until now", "so far", or "to date" as alternatives.

Is it correct to say "up to this point" instead of "up to this time"?

Yes, "up to this point" is a very similar and often interchangeable phrase.

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

"Up to this time" refers to a duration leading to the present, while "at this time" refers to the present moment itself. For instance, "Up to this time, we had no issues, but at this time, there's a problem."