To date means up to now, so far: to date, the team has restored forty-two bicycles. With a superlative, it means of all so far: the largest workshop we have held to date. It's a bit more formal than so far, so it suits reports and essays.
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have done something to date; the largest / best ... to date; to date, ...
- To date, the team has restored forty-two bicycles.
- This is the largest workshop we have held to date.
- No further applications have arrived to date.
What changed
First versionThe project has collected two hundred recordings to the date.
RevisionThe project has collected two hundred recordings to date.
Date sounds like a specific day, so the creeps in: to the date. But the phrase has no article: to date. It usually comes with the present perfect: has collected, have received.
So far means the same, simpler and more casual: so far, so good. Up to date means current, recent: keep your contacts up to date. A report can be accurate to date and still not be up to date.
Your turn
The total covers the period up to now: To ___, we have received eighteen replies.
Show the answer
date — The fixed phrase is to date, with no article. The date would point to one particular day, while to date simply means up to now.
Give a progress update on a small project, how much is done so far, using to date.
To date, our reading group has discussed twelve novels.
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