What is difference between till and until
by Yogi P - October 17, 2023
Difference between Till and Until
Till and until are two words that often cause confusion, especially because their meanings and usages overlap in certain ways. They are often used interchangeably, but their meanings are actually quite different.
Till
Till is most commonly used as a preposition, adverb, and conjunction. As a preposition, it means ‘up to but not including the time of’.
For example: “We will work till noon”. As an adverb, it is used to indicate similarity or a condition. For an example – ” The situation was the same till last week “.
As a conjunction, it is used to connect two conditions together and indicate that the outcome of the one depends upon the fulfilment of the other. For an example – ” I won’t go out until it stops raining “.
Until
Until is most commonly used as a conjugation of ‘till’, and it implies a point in time or a situation that exists until a certain condition has been fulfilled.
For an example ” He won’t go out until it stops raining “.
Difference between Till and Until – Meaning and Usage:
To understand the difference between till and until, we need to consider two separate aspects. Firstly, the meaning of the word and secondly, the usage. Till implies up to a certain point of time while until implies up to and including the point of time. For the usage, till is most commonly used as a preposition while until is used as a conjunction.
Examples of Difference between Till and Until:
Let’s look at some examples to better understand the difference between till and until.
- I will wait till sunset. (up to but not including sunset)
- He will be here until sunset. (including and up to sunset)
- I will be in the office till 8 pm. (up to but not including 8 pm)
- I will stay here until 5 pm. (including and up to 5 pm)
Overview table of difference between “till” and “until”
| Aspect | Till | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Preposition | Informal and widely used in casual language | Generally considered standard and formal English |
| Example | I’ll wait till you finish your task. | The store is open until 8 PM. |
| Usage | Used to indicate a point up to a specific time or event | Used to indicate a point leading up to a specific time or event |
| Synonyms | Until, up to, up until, before | Before, up to, up until, by |
| Formality | Less formal and more suitable for everyday conversation | More formal and standard in written and formal language |
| Variations | “Till” is a variation of “until.” | “Until” is the more standard and widely accepted term. |
Activity to Enhance Understanding:
To further understand the difference between till and until, readers may want to try an activity. Take some commonly used sentences that employ both words and see if the meaning changes when they are switched.
For example let us try switching “I will stay here till 6 pm” with “I will stay here until 6 pm”. Does the meaning stay the same? Does the context change?
Conclusion:
In conclusion, it is important to realize that although till and until are used interchangeably, their meanings and usages differ significantly. Till implies up to a certain point of time while until implies up to and including the point of time. Till is most commonly used as a preposition and until is used as a conjunction.
By practicing situational examples, readers can gain a better understanding of these words and learn when to use them correctly in sentences.
