'to date'

Question

Hi, 'to date' means 'up to/until now' so I am wondering as to why I am seeing people using the simple present with 'to date' in sentences like:

It remains at the top of the chart to date.

It is successful to date.

Instead of the present perfect:

It has remained at the top of the chart to date.

It has been successful to date.

Thank you.

Philip · Accepted Answer

The simple present doesn't sound odd to me here.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIt remains at the top of the chart to date.
It is successful to date.

You might think of 'to date' as meaning 'still' when used with the present tense.

It is still at the top of the chart.

It is still successful.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Oh, so could I say that 'to date' is more similar to 'as of now'?

Avangi · Answer

AnonymousOh, so could I say that 'to date' is more similar to 'as of now'?

No.
"To date" usually refers to the total items or events in the given category up to this point.

"As of now" refers to the status of something at this point.

Of course there are situations in which both expressions may amount to the same thing.

Eg, "As of now we have recruited seventy-five members." This really refers to the status of the total.

I think it would be "more correct" to say, "As of now, we have seventy-five members."

"To date/Up to this point, we have recruited seventy-five members." This refers to what we have done.

It has been successful thus far.

"It is successful thus far" seems more casual. To my ear, it's not ideal.

To date, no one has claimed the reward.

As of now, no one has claimed the reward.

These both refer to the present status of something.

But "to date" really focuses on what has happened (or not happened) during a period up to this point.

"As of now" focuses only on the present.

Re your original question, I think the present simple works in this case because the verb "remains" describes a condition rather than an event.

The same thing is true of the copular verb: To date, it is successful. This is not an event.

Likewise the present continuous: To date, it is working.

Present simple also works when describing habitual behavior: To date/as of now, he goes to the gym daily.

Anonymous · Answer

AvangiRe your original question, I think the present simple works in this case because the verb "remains" describes a condition rather than an event.
The same thing is true of the copular verb: To date, it is successful. This is not an event.
Likewise the present continuous: To date, it is working.
Present simple also works when describing habitual behavior: To date/as of now, he goes to the gym daily.

I would like to point out that this reasoning is rather weak.

If 'to date' really means 'up to this point', 'To date, it has been successful' instead of 'To date, it is successful' would be correct. We don't use the simple present to refer to something that started in the past and has carried on till now; that's the job of the present perfect. The only way for 'To date, it is successful' to be grammatically plausible is for 'to date' to mean 'as for now' in this particular context.

Avangi · Answer

Hi, Anon.

Thanks for the post.

I'm thinking in terms of habituation here.

For example, "Up to this point, he gets his homework in on time."

"To date he is punctual."

I'd agree that "To date he has been punctual" is more common.

Best regards, - A.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWe don't use the simple present to refer to something that started in the past and has carried on till now

Well, not usually maybe, but note my use of "still" above. still is used with the present and refers to somethng that started in the past and has continued on till now.

I'm still waiting for that delivery to arrive. (The waiting began in the past.)

CJ

Avangi · Answer

I expect "I still wait for my love to return" is also correct.  (present simple)

CalifJim · Answer

AvangiI expect "I still wait for my love to return" is also correct. (present simple)

I expect so, as well as I still need to find my first love! (present complicated)

CJ

Avangi · Answer

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