Has (as) far as I can tell

Writers sometimes drop the first "as" from the idiom "as far as I can tell" and end up with ungrammatical lines like "He has far as I can tell completed the report." The correct idiom keeps the initial "as": "He has, as far as I can tell, completed the report." Below are clear rules, punctuation tips, and ready-to-use rewrites for work, school, and casual contexts.

Quick answer

Keep the first "as." The standard phrase is "as far as I can tell." Use commas when the phrase interrupts a sentence, or move it to the start or end.

"He has, as far as I can tell, finished." - correct (parenthetical).
"As far as I can tell, he has finished." - correct (fronted adverbial).
"He has far as I can tell finished." - incorrect (missing "as").

Core explanation: why the first "as" matters

"As far as I can tell" is an adverbial idiom meaning "to the extent that I know." The initial "as" is part of the comparative structure and links the phrase to the clause it modifies; dropping it reduces clarity and sounds ungrammatical in formal writing.

Structure: as + far + as + clause (often shortened in speech, but the full form is standard in writing).
Function: hedging - it signals limited certainty and attributes the claim to the speaker's knowledge.

Wrong: He has far as I can tell completed the audit.
Right: He has, as far as I can tell, completed the audit.

Comma and placement rules

When the phrase interrupts the main clause, set it off with commas. Placing it at the start or end often requires only one comma. Moving the phrase changes emphasis:

Front: "As far as I can tell, he has submitted the file." (foregrounds the hedging)
Internal: "He has, as far as I can tell, submitted the file." (keeps focus on the verb)
End: "He has submitted the file, as far as I can tell." (softens the conclusion)

Front example: As far as I can tell, she sent the invoice yesterday.
Internal example: She sent the invoice, as far as I can tell, yesterday.
Trailing example: She sent the invoice yesterday, as far as I can tell.

Real usage and tone: formal vs casual

The phrase is acceptable in formal writing as a cautious reporting device. In casual speech people sometimes truncate phrases, but in workplace or academic writing you should keep the full idiom and punctuate it correctly to avoid looking careless.

Formal: use the full phrase and commas for clarity.
Casual: you may hear reduced forms in speech, but avoid them in written communication.
Tone: use the phrase to temper claims and avoid overstatement.

Work - Wrong: He has far as I can tell sent the draft to legal.
Work - Right: He has, as far as I can tell, sent the draft to legal.
School - Wrong: He has far as I can tell completed the homework.
School - Right: He has, as far as I can tell, completed the homework.
Casual - Wrong: He has far as I can tell finished the movie.
Casual - Right: He has, as far as I can tell, finished the movie.

Examples: work, school, and casual - ready to use

Below are practical wrong/right pairs plus alternative rewrites you can paste into your draft. Choose the one that matches your tone.

Work
- Wrong: He has far as I can tell approved the budget; I haven't seen the signed copy.
- Right: He has, as far as I can tell, approved the budget; I haven't seen the signed copy.
- Alt: As far as I can tell, he has approved the budget; I haven't seen the signed copy.
School
- Wrong: He has far as I can tell turned in the lab report late.
- Right: He has, as far as I can tell, turned in the lab report late.
- Alt: He turned in the lab report late, as far as I can tell.
Casual
- Wrong: He has far as I can tell already seen the new episode.
- Right: He has, as far as I can tell, already seen the new episode.
- Alt: As far as I can tell, he already saw the new episode.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence rather than the phrase alone - context usually shows the best placement and punctuation.

Fix-it guide: how to repair your sentence fast

Three quick checks will fix almost any case:

1. Is the initial "as" present? If not, add it.
2. Is the phrase interrupting the clause? If so, wrap it with commas.
3. If punctuation looks heavy or clumsy, move the phrase to the start or end.

Copy one of these rewrites to preserve emphasis:

Original (broken): He has far as I can tell completed it.
- Internal: He has, as far as I can tell, completed it.
- Fronted: As far as I can tell, he has completed it.
- Trailing: He has completed it, as far as I can tell.
Original (broken): She has far as I can tell missed the meeting.
- Fix: She has, as far as I can tell, missed the meeting.
Original (broken): I think he has far as I can tell sent the files.
- Fix: I think, as far as I can tell, he has sent the files.

Hyphenation and spacing: nothing special here

No hyphens or special spacing are needed. Treat the phrase as four separate words: "as far as I can tell."

Correct: as far as I can tell
Avoid: as-far-as-I-can-tell or as faras I can tell

Spacing and commas: common pitfalls

Comma errors usually come from forgetting that the phrase is parenthetical. If it sits in the middle, add a comma before and after. If it starts the sentence, follow it with a comma when the pause makes the sentence clearer. If commas pile up, rewrite the sentence for clarity.

Good: He has, as far as I can tell, signed off on the plan.
Bad: He has, as far as I can tell signed off on the plan. (missing second comma)
If commas feel awkward, move the phrase to the end: He has signed off on the plan, as far as I can tell.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Other hedging expressions are close but not identical: "as far as I know," "to my knowledge," or "as it appears." Choose the one that matches your intended scope. Also avoid dropping small words in other fixed phrases (for example, "as soon as" → "soon as").

"As far as I know" - leans on factual knowledge rather than perception.
"To my knowledge" - common in legal or formal contexts.
Avoid dropping words: "as long as" → "long as" is colloquial and may be unacceptable in formal writing.

Wrong: He has far as I know completed the task.
Right: He has, as far as I know, completed the task.
Wrong: She arrived long as I can tell late.
Right: She arrived, as far as I can tell, late.

FAQ

Is "has far as I can tell" correct?

No. Use "has, as far as I can tell," or front the phrase: "As far as I can tell, he has..." The initial "as" is required in standard English.

Where do I put commas with "as far as I can tell"?

Wrap the phrase in commas when it interrupts the main clause. If it starts the sentence, follow it with a comma when a pause helps readability. At the end, a preceding comma is usually helpful for clarity.

Can I say "far as I can tell" in informal chat?

You might see "far as I can tell" in very casual speech or quick texts, but in emails, schoolwork, and professional writing stick with the full phrase to avoid appearing careless.

How do I fix a sentence that sounds clunky with this phrase?

Move the phrase to the beginning or end or restructure the sentence so the parenthetical doesn't split subject and verb. Examples: "As far as I can tell, he has finished." or "He has finished, as far as I can tell."

Will grammar checkers catch this error?

Many grammar tools flag missing words in common idioms and will suggest adding the initial "as." Still, review suggestions to make sure punctuation and tone match your intent.

Want to check your sentence quickly?

Paste your sentence into a grammar checker to see suggested fixes. If a tool adds the missing "as" and the rewrite preserves meaning and improves clarity, it's a safe change to accept.