Is “Until [date]” Inclusive or Exclusive the Date? (Email)

Ever wanted to give a time frame to someone but were unsure if the word “until” should include the date or not? This article would serve as a guide to explain if the phrase “Until [date]” is inclusive or exclusive of the date.

Is “Until” Inclusive or Exclusive the Date?

The word “until” is inclusive of the date. “Until” is a word that refers to “up to the time of something happening”. So, “until [date]” implies that a particular event will keep happening even on the arrival of the given date but will cease to occur after the given date.

“Until [date]” can be used as a form of deadline. Take for example, this sentence,

• This service will be available for use until the 30th of May.

(This implies that the service will be available before and on the 30th of May. After that, it becomes unavailable for use).

The trick to perfectly understanding this term is to note that the deadline is always inclusive of the stipulated date.

Examples of How To Use “Until” In An Email

It was earlier stated in the article that “until” is inclusive of the date. Here are a few examples to further explain the meaning of the word and show how to use “until” in emails.

• Dear Peter,
• I am sending you this email to notify you that I’ll be out of the office until Thursday, 26th of May. I am taking this leave to take care of my daughter, who is very sick. I am hoping for your usual understanding.
• Regards,
• Sally Cooper.

• Dear Billy,
• In response to the previous email you sent, I will be available to meet with the board of directors from now until the 30th of May. Please make sure to pick a date that fits into this timeframe.
• Yours sincerely,
• Elizabeth James.

• Dear Sir,
• I have a doctor’s appointment for my monthly checkup. My family hospital is out of town, and as a result, I will be out of the office until further notice. I already got approval from the Head of HR, and I am simply sending this email to let you know as well.
• Yours sincerely,
• Marcus Johnson.

• Dear Esteemed Customer,
• We hope this email finds you well. Please remember that the 50% discount on all items purchased from us is valid until the end of this month. Hurry now and make the best use of this offer.
• Kind regards,
• The Marketing Team.

Examples of How To Use “Until” In A Sentence

Here are a few examples showing how to use the word “until” in a sentence informally:

• I will not eat until my dad comes back from work.

(This means that the speaker will only eat when her dad is back from work)

• Most plants don’t produce their fruits until the rainy season.

(This means that most plants only produce their fruits during the rainy season)

• Fiona could not figure out what was wrong with her car until she called a mechanic.

(This means that Fiona could only figure out what was wrong with her car when she called a mechanic.)

• You have until Monday to submit your presentation.

(This means that the presentation can only be submitted on or before Monday and not any day after.)

• I will not speak to you until you apologize to me.

(This means that, as long as the speaker does not receive an apology, he/she will not speak to this person.)

• If you can wait until after I meet with him, we can talk then.

(This means that the speaker is only free to talk with the other person after her meeting)

“Until” Synonyms

Now that you have fully understood the meaning of the word “until” and how to use it in a formal and informal setting, here are a few words and phrases that are similar to the word “until”.

• Till
• Up to
• Prior to
• As late as
• Up to the time of

Final Thoughts

It is grammatically appropriate to include the date when using “until” in a sentence. “Until [date]” means that an event will continue to happen until the said date. The “date” included in the sentence explains how long the event will last before it stops.

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