Mastering "As of Today": A Simple Grammar Guide for ESL Learners

Have you ever needed to talk about a change that starts now and continues into the future? The adverbial phrase “as of today” is the perfect tool for this. It’s a common phrase in English that helps you sound professional and precise. Understanding how to use it correctly is a great step toward improving your fluency in English. This guide will provide clear usage tips and sentence examples to help you master "as of today" and improve your ESL writing skills.

Table of Contents

• What Does “As of Today” Mean?
• What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “As of Today”?
• Example Sentences with “As of Today”
• When and How to Use “As of Today”
• Summary and Practice Tip

What Does “As of Today” Mean?

In simple terms, “as of today” means from this day forward or starting from today.

This phrase signals a specific point in time when something begins, changes, or becomes effective. It's often used to introduce a new rule, share updated information, or announce a new status. In a sentence, it functions as an adverbial phrase that helps modify verbs by telling us when an action or state officially starts. Its meaning is focused on a transition point.

More: Mastering 'In Recent Months': A Simple Grammar Guide

What Type of Adverbial Phrase Is “As of Today”?

“As of today” is an adverbial phrase of time. It clearly answers the question, “When does this start?” or “From what time is this true?” Its role is to add specific time context to the main clause of a sentence.

Let’s look at its simple grammar rules and sentence structure:

• Grammatical Structure: It combines the compound preposition as of with a noun indicating time, today. The preposition as of specifically marks a starting point. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “as of” means “starting from a particular time or date.”
• Position in a Sentence: This phrase is very flexible, but it most often appears at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a comma. It can also be placed at the end.
  • Beginning:As of today, [Subject] + [Verb] + [Rest of Sentence].
  • End:[Subject] + [Verb] + [Rest of Sentence] as of today.

Using it at the beginning adds emphasis to the timing of the change.

More: Mastering 'In the Following Days': Grammar & Usage Guide

Example Sentences with “As of Today”

Seeing this phrase in action is the best way to learn. Here are some natural sentence examples to show how it works in different contexts.

• As of today, the company will no longer offer free snacks in the breakroom.
• The new traffic law is in effect as of today.
• Our new manager is officially in charge as of today.

Here is how you might hear it in a short conversation:

• Person A: "Are we still working from home next week?"
• Person B: "I just read the new company memo. As of today, we are required to be in the office three days a week."

When and How to Use “As of Today”

Understanding the context for using “as of today” is key to sounding natural. It has a slightly formal tone, which makes it perfect for certain situations.

Usage Tips

• Formal Contexts: Use it in business emails, official announcements, reports, and legal notices. It makes the information sound official and clear.
• Announcing Changes: It is the ideal phrase for announcing a new policy, price, or procedure. For example: “As of today, all returns require a receipt.”
• Common Variations: You can easily change the time reference. This is a very useful grammar pattern. For example:
  • as of tomorrow
  • as of next Monday
  • as of July 1st

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common mistake for ESL learners is using “as of today” to describe an event that is entirely in the past. The phrase implies that a new state begins now and will continue. If you want to talk about a change that happened and ended in the past, it is better to use a simple date. For example, say “The office was closed on Monday,” not “The office was closed as of Monday.”

Summary and Practice Tip

To summarize, “as of today” is a formal adverbial phrase of time that you can use to mark the starting point of a new situation or rule. It adds clarity and authority to your writing and speaking, especially in professional settings.

Now, it's your turn to practice! Think of a rule or situation that is changing. Write your own sentence in the comments below using the phrase “as of today.”

For more English grammar help and tips on how to use adverbial phrases, keep exploring our blog!