well until now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "well until now" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been satisfactory or acceptable up to the present moment, but may change in the future. Example: "Everything was going well until now, but I just received some troubling news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

It worked really well, until now.

The Guardian

Well, until now; call it a relapse.

The New York Times

"I've done so well until now.

The New York Times

The sequester spending cuts were postponed until — well, until now.

The New York Times

By this reckoning, they have done well until now.

The Economist

She added, "The system has worked well — until now".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Although America's fascination with all things Polynesian pop culture has been well documented, it hasn't been well explained — until now.

Los Angeles Times

But Trapattoni said: "When you do your job well - until now, I think they have played well for our country, and we must have a reason.

Independent

Well, unsung until now.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It's just, well, up until now nobody offered us a Whopper in exchange for your feelings".

The New York Times

He had been captured as well, and until now he hadn't fully apprehended how much the "influence industry" — the lobbying, the media campaigns, the grasstops, the revolving door — had transformed Washington.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "well until now" to signal a change in circumstances, performance, or condition. It's effective for highlighting a contrast between a satisfactory past and a potentially uncertain future.

Common error

Avoid using "well until now" if the positive condition is still ongoing and there's no anticipated change. The phrase is best used when signaling a shift or potential disruption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "well until now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a temporal boundary. It signifies that a certain condition or state was valid up to the present moment, implying a potential or actual change thereafter. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "well until now" serves as an adverbial phrase that establishes a contrast between a past condition and a present or future state. Ludwig AI validates that it's grammatically correct and most often used in news, media, and scientific sources. To avoid misuse, remember that it's best suited for situations where a change is either happening or anticipated, not for describing continuously positive conditions. Alternative phrases such as "up to this point" or "until this moment" offer similar meaning with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to this point

Focuses on the temporal aspect, highlighting the duration leading to the present.

until this moment

Emphasizes the immediacy of the present as the point of change.

hitherto

A more formal way of saying 'up until now'.

previously

Indicates a time before the current situation.

until recently

Suggests the change is very recent.

so far

Implies a continuation is still possible.

as yet

More common in British English, indicating something hasn't happened but might.

up to the present time

A more verbose, formal version.

thus far

Similar to 'so far' but slightly more formal.

before now

A simple alternative, placing emphasis on the current moment.

FAQs

How can I use "well until now" in a sentence?

You can use "well until now" to indicate that something has been satisfactory or acceptable up to the present moment, but may change in the future. For example: "Everything was going "well until now", but I just received some troubling news."

What are some alternatives to "well until now"?

Alternatives include "up to this point", "until this moment", or "hitherto", depending on the context and level of formality you desire.

Is it always necessary to include "well" before "until now"?

While "well" can add emphasis or act as a discourse marker, it's not strictly necessary. "Until now" is also a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, conveying a similar meaning without the additional emphasis.

How does "well until now" differ from "in the past"?

"Well until now" specifically indicates a change or potential change from a previously satisfactory state, whereas "in the past" simply refers to a time before the present without necessarily implying a change or contrast.