up until now only

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "up until now only" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been true or applicable exclusively until the present moment. Example: "Up until now only a few people knew about the secret project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

But Mr. Yoshitomi argues that up until now, only the politicians have broken from the pack to tackle the bad debt while the regulators and the banks themselves have shown enormous reluctance.

The New York Times

It has up until now only been used for a limited amount of company correspondence.

TechCrunch

The BBC's Mark Lowen, in Simferopol, says up until now only warning shots have been fired amid a truce - but it appears the tension has boiled over and there are fears that further clashes could follow.

BBC

King's College London wants businesses, charities and other organizations to adopt measures included in the government's Active Cyber Defence (ACD) programme, which has up until now only covered public sector organizations.

Forbes

The use of live bullets on stone-throwers in Jerusalem marks a major shift in Israeli security tactics, which up until now only allowed the military to open fire on demonstrators in the West Bank.

Vice

Up until now only limited evidence exists on the mechanism of cardiovascular complications in patients with depression.

Journal of Psychiatric Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

This special issue of Postmodern Culture takes up a subject until now only rarely discussed in the annals of academic scholarship: that of contemporary American poet's theater.

Johns Hopkins University

I can imagine that this would be a good way for Britain to expand its use of wind energy, which up until now has only been very marginal.

The Guardian

Scientists have for the first time captured images of a molecule rearranging its bonds at a single-atom resolution, a structure that up until now had only been inferred.

Independent

In this country, expect executive types to buy them and athletes who up until now have only found SUVs large enough.

Forbes

The company, which was founded in 2009, has up until now offered only e-books for the iPad as well as some connected apps for the iPhone.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "up until now only", ensure the context clearly indicates a change or shift in the described situation. This phrase works best when emphasizing that a previous limitation or exclusivity has been altered.

Common error

Avoid using "up until now only" in contexts where the "only" is already implied. For example, instead of saying "Up until now only accredited investors had access", consider "Until now, only accredited investors had access" to prevent unnecessary repetition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up until now only" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the temporal limitation of a particular condition or action. As Ludwig AI suggests, it emphasizes that something has been exclusively true until the present moment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "up until now only" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing that a condition has been true exclusively until the present. Ludwig's examples show its prevalence in news, media, and scientific contexts. The AI analysis confirms it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While versatile, it's important to avoid redundancy and ensure the context warrants emphasizing a change or shift in circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Until recently, solely

Emphasizes the recency of the change and the exclusivity of the previous situation.

Previously, just

Highlights the temporal aspect of the limitation, focusing on what was true at an earlier time.

Hitherto, exclusively

Uses more formal language to convey that something was limited to a specific case up to the present.

Up to this point, uniquely

Stresses the culmination of time and the singular nature of the previous condition.

As of late, singularly

Focuses on the recent timeframe and the exceptional quality of the prior circumstance.

In the past, uniquely

Highlights the past condition, focusing on its unique characteristics.

Before now, merely

Simple and direct, emphasizing the change from then to now and the limited scope before.

Until the present, purely

Emphasizes the continuity up to the current time and the unmixed nature of the earlier state.

Formerly, simply

Indicates a past state that was uncomplicated or basic.

In earlier times, solely

Highlights the historical aspect and the exclusiveness of the past situation.

FAQs

How can I use "up until now only" in a sentence?

Use "up until now only" to indicate that a certain condition or limitation has been true exclusively until the present moment. For example, "Up until now only warning shots have been fired."

What phrases are similar to "up until now only"?

Alternatives include "until recently, solely", "previously, just", or "hitherto, exclusively" depending on the context and desired formality.

Is it redundant to use "only" after "up until now"?

While not strictly incorrect, using "only" after "up until now" can sometimes be redundant if the exclusivity is already implied. Consider whether the "only" adds significant emphasis or clarity.

What is the level of formality of the phrase "up until now only"?

The phrase "up until now only" is generally considered neutral in terms of formality. It is suitable for both news and media contexts, as well as scientific writing.