How to Use “As of Yet”

• “As of yet” is often used to describe something that has not happened yet.
• Although it is grammatically correct, “as of yet” is often deemed unnecessarily wordy. If you strive for clear writing, you can say “as yet,” or, even better, simply use the word “yet.”

Do you want to understand the expression “as of yet” and the best way to use it? Perhaps examining some examples will help. 

• Example: He hasn’t read the report as of yet.
  • In this example, “as of yet” refers to something that had not happened. 
• Example: The as of yet untitled book will be about her life.
  • There is a sense of anticipation in this example. Though the book currently has no title, you can anticipate that it will be named soon.

A different way to say “as of yet” is to use the phrase “as yet.” These two phrases can be used interchangeably. 

• Example: The cause of the illness is as yet unknown.

Many writing professionals advise against using “as of yet” and “as yet.” There are also dictionaries that explain “as of yet” is inferior to “yet” alone. invariably inferior to yet alone.” In fact, the book Common Errors in English Usage comments that “as of yet” is a pretentious and wordy substitute for “yet.” 

Why do you think the phrase “as of yet” is looked down on? If you substitute “yet” for “as of yet” in most examples, it works just as well. Writing is best when it is simple and clear. That is why some language guides prefer “yet” over “as of yet.”

So, why did “as of yet” even come into existence? Common Errors in English Usage teaches that the phrase may have originated from the practice of referring to a certain date or day of the month with “as of.” In fact, the first known use of “as of” occurred in 1900. And shortly after that is when writers began substituting “yet” for specific dates or time markers such as yesterday or today.

• Here are a few examples: 
  • As of Friday, I am a married man. 
  • As of the 10th of May, our rent is due. 
  • The lease ended as of November 30, 2020. 

Hopefully, this clears up any confusion about “as of yet.” If you see this phrase, you now understand that it simply means “yet.” And you’ve learned that you can make your writing clearer by not using this phrase.

Related article:  Starting your sentence with Yet.

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