“Thus far” and “so far” are both correct English expressions that generally mean “up to this point” or “until now.” In many sentences, they can be used interchangeably without changing the basic meaning. For example, “Everything has gone well thus far” and “Everything has gone well so far” communicate essentially the same idea.
The main difference is tone and style rather than meaning. “So far” is much more common in everyday conversation and informal writing, while “thus far” tends to sound more formal, literary or deliberate. Both expressions can refer to something that has happened or been true up to the present moment. Understanding this small difference can help you choose the expression that best fits your audience and context.
Quick Answer
“Thus far” and “so far” both mean “up to now” or “until this point.” So far is more common and natural in everyday English, while thus far is more formal and is often found in academic, professional, literary or formal writing.
Why People Confuse “Thus Far” and “So Far”
The two expressions are easy to confuse because they often appear in exactly the same grammatical positions.
Compare:
The project has been successful so far.
and:
The project has been successful thus far.
Both mean:
The project has been successful up to this point.
The difference is mainly register.
So far sounds conversational and straightforward.
Thus far sounds more formal and somewhat more literary.
Neither expression is inherently more correct.
Thus Far: Meaning and Usage
Thus far means up to this point, until now, or to this stage.
It is often used when discussing progress, results, developments, or events that have occurred up to a particular point.
Examples
Thus far, we have received no complaints.
Meaning:
Up to now, we have received no complaints.
The experiment has produced promising results thus far.
Meaning:
The experiment has produced promising results up to this point.
Because thus far has a formal tone, it is particularly suitable for reports, essays, presentations, and formal discussions.
So Far: Meaning and Usage
So far also means up to now, until now, or up to this point.
It is extremely common in everyday English.
Examples
So far, everything is going well.
I’ve read three chapters so far.
So far, we haven’t had any problems.
You can use so far in casual conversations, emails, texts, articles, and many other forms of communication.
Thus Far vs So Far: Comparison Table
| Expression | Meaning | Tone | Common Context | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So far | Up to now | Neutral/informal | Conversation, everyday writing | So far, everything is fine. |
| Thus far | Up to now | Formal/literary | Reports, academic and formal writing | Thus far, the results are encouraging. |
| Until now | Up to the present | Neutral | General English | Until now, we had no problems. |
| To date | Up to the present date | Formal | Business, reports, statistics | To date, we have received 100 applications. |
| As of now | At the present time | Neutral/formal | Updates and announcements | As of now, the plan remains unchanged. |
When to Use “So Far”
Use so far when you want a natural, everyday way to talk about what has happened up to the present.
1. Casual Conversation
How’s your new job going so far?
This sounds very natural.
2. Talking About Progress
I’ve completed five tasks so far.
3. Describing an Experience
The trip has been great so far.
4. Giving an Update
So far, we haven’t found any problems.
5. Talking About Results
The treatment seems to be working well so far.
In ordinary conversation, so far is usually the easiest and most natural choice.
When to Use “Thus Far”
Use thus far when you want a somewhat more formal or polished tone.
1. Formal Reports
Thus far, the investigation has revealed no significant issues.
2. Academic Writing
The research conducted thus far supports the original hypothesis.
3. Professional Communication
Thus far, the project has remained within budget.
4. Formal Presentations
Thus far, our findings have been consistent with previous studies.
5. Literary or Formal Prose
Thus far, his journey had been remarkably successful.
In these contexts, thus far can sound more deliberate than so far.
15 Examples Using “So Far”
- So far, everything is going according to plan.
- I’ve enjoyed the course so far.
- How are you finding the new job so far?
- So far, we haven’t received any complaints.
- She has read five books so far this year.
- The movie has been excellent so far.
- So far, the weather has been pleasant.
- I’ve learned a lot so far.
- The project is going well so far.
- So far, no one has volunteered.
- We’ve sold more than 500 tickets so far.
- The meeting has been productive so far.
- So far, I haven’t noticed any problems.
- The team has performed well so far this season.
- Everything seems fine so far.
15 Examples Using “Thus Far”
- Thus far, the project has remained on schedule.
- The results thus far have been encouraging.
- Thus far, no evidence has been found to support the claim.
- The research conducted thus far is promising.
- Thus far, the company has avoided major difficulties.
- The investigation has revealed little thus far.
- Thus far, our findings are consistent with previous research.
- The negotiations have progressed smoothly thus far.
- Thus far, the evidence remains inconclusive.
- The experiment has been successful thus far.
- Thus far, the team has met all its objectives.
- The policy has produced positive results thus far.
- Thus far, no significant changes have been reported.
- The project has stayed within its original budget thus far.
- Thus far, the evidence suggests that the approach is effective.
Can “Thus Far” and “So Far” Be Used Interchangeably?
In many cases, yes.
For example:
So far, the project has been successful.
Thus far, the project has been successful.
The basic meaning is the same.
However, the tone changes slightly.
So far sounds more natural and conversational.
Thus far sounds more formal and polished.
Therefore, the choice often depends on the style of your writing rather than a difference in literal meaning.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Thinking “thus far” is incorrect
It is completely correct.
Thus far, we have had no problems. ✅
It simply has a more formal tone than so far.
Mistake 2: Thinking “so far” is too informal for all writing
So far is not incorrect or unprofessional.
For example:
The project has performed well so far.
This can be perfectly appropriate in professional communication.
However, in particularly formal or academic prose, thus far may fit the tone better.
Mistake 3: Using “thus far” in every sentence
Although correct, thus far can sound unnecessarily formal in casual conversation.
Instead of:
How has your vacation been thus far?
Most speakers would naturally say:
How has your vacation been so far?
Mistake 4: Confusing “thus far” with “therefore”
Thus can mean “therefore” in some contexts, but thus far is a fixed expression meaning up to this point.
Thus far, everything has gone well.
Here, thus far does not mean “therefore far.”
Grammar and Sentence Position
Both expressions can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence.
At the beginning
So far, everything is going well.
Thus far, everything is going well.
At the end
Everything is going well so far.
Everything is going well thus far.
Both positions can be grammatically correct.
However, placing the expression at the beginning can emphasize the time period being discussed.
Thus Far vs So Far in Formal Writing
If you are writing an academic paper, formal report, business document, or professional analysis, thus far may sometimes fit the register better.
For example:
The research conducted thus far indicates that further investigation is necessary.
This sounds formal and academic.
But so far is not automatically inappropriate:
The research conducted so far indicates that further investigation is necessary.
This is also grammatical and clear.
The key difference is style, not correctness.
American vs British English
Both “so far” and “thus far” are used in American English and British English.
There is no major regional difference in their meanings.
The important distinction is that so far is much more common in everyday speech, while thus far is more likely to appear in formal, literary, or carefully written language.
For example, both varieties can use:
How is your new job going so far?
and:
Thus far, the results have been encouraging.
Similar Expressions
Until now
Means up to the present time.
Until now, we haven’t had any problems.
Up to now
A very direct alternative to so far.
Up to now, everything has been fine.
To date
Means up to the present date and is common in formal writing.
To date, the company has received hundreds of applications.
So far
The most common everyday option.
So far, everything looks good.
Thus far
A more formal alternative.
Thus far, everything has gone according to plan.
FAQs About Thus Far vs So Far
1. Is “thus far” the same as “so far”?
Yes. In most contexts, both mean “up to now” or “until this point.” The main difference is that thus far is more formal, while so far is more common in everyday English.
2. Is “thus far” formal?
Yes. Thus far generally has a formal, literary, or somewhat old-fashioned tone compared with so far.
3. Which is more common: “thus far” or “so far”?
So far is much more common in everyday English and ordinary conversation.
4. Can I use “thus far” in academic writing?
Yes. Thus far is often suitable for academic and formal writing, particularly when discussing research, findings, progress, or evidence.
5. Can I use “so far” in formal writing?
Yes. So far is grammatically correct and can be used in professional and formal writing. It simply sounds less formal than thus far.
6. Is “thus far” better than “so far”?
Neither is universally better. So far is generally more natural for everyday communication, while thus far may be preferable when a more formal tone is desired.
7. What is another word for “thus far”?
Depending on the context, alternatives include so far, until now, up to now, to date, and up to this point.
8. Is “thus far” old-fashioned?
It can sound somewhat formal or literary, but it is still standard English and is commonly used in formal writing.
Final Verdict
“Thus far” and “so far” have essentially the same meaning: “up to now” or “until this point.” The biggest difference is their tone. So far is the natural choice for everyday conversation, casual writing, and most ordinary situations. Thus far is more formal and is often used in academic, professional, literary, or analytical writing.
You can often replace one with the other without changing the basic meaning of a sentence. The best choice depends on the tone you want. If you want simple and conversational English, choose so far. If you want a more formal or polished style, thus far can be appropriate.
Remember This
So far = up to now, everyday and natural.
Thus far = up to now, but more formal.
Think of them as two ways of saying the same basic thing:
so far = thus far = up to now
The main difference is style, not meaning.
Conclusion
The expressions “thus far” and “so far” are both correct and generally interchangeable when they mean “up to this point.” The important distinction is their level of formality. So far is much more common in everyday English, while thus far often appears in formal reports, academic writing, professional communication and literary prose.
When speaking with friends or giving a casual update, so far will usually sound more natural. When writing a formal report or discussing research and results, thus far can provide a more formal tone. Once you understand that the difference is primarily about register, choosing between them becomes straightforward.
