What is thus far?

The phrase "thus far" is an idiomatic expression that means "up to this point" or "until now." It is often used to describe progress, developments, or states of affairs that have occurred up to the present moment. Here are a few contexts in which "thus far" might be used:

1. Progress Reports: It can describe how much work has been completed in a project. For example, "Thus far, we have completed half of the construction."

2. Evaluating Outcomes: It is useful in assessing outcomes or results up to a certain point. For example, "The experiment has been successful thus far."

3. Ongoing Situations: The phrase might describe ongoing situations or conditions. For example, "The policy changes have been well-received thus far."

4. Cautious Optimism: Often, "thus far" is used to express cautious optimism. For example, "The patient has shown improvement, thus far."

5. Sequential Analysis: It might refer to stages in a sequence of events. For example, "The team has won all their games thus far this season."

Essentially, "thus far" focuses on continuity and progression up to and including the current moment, without making predictions or assumptions about the future.