So far vs till now

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

hi,

Can anyone help me giving the difference between ‘till now’ and ‘so far’? what is the correct usage between the two?

Thanks

2

Hi Lavanyah,

Thanks for posting your question here. Till now is used mainly for time in the sense of up to this time/now as in:

We have managed to pay our bills till now but as costs are rising we are now finding it difficult.

So far is used mainly for space/direction rather than time as in the sense of up to this stage/point as in:

They had climbed so far up the mountainside that they decided to go on to the top.

Alan

3

Thanks Alan, that was very useful.