If you’ve ever heard the phrase “within 7 days”, you may have been a little confused. Does that include the 7th day? Does it include today? In this post, we’ll discuss exactly what “within 7 days” means.
What Does “Within 7 Days” Mean?
“Within 7 days” generally implies that you have 7 days, starting from the day this statement is made, to do something. However, this can mean “168 hours from this statement” or “7 calendar days from this statement, including today”. You must ask the person given this deadline to be certain.
Unfortunately, this is one of those things that is just not entirely agreed upon. The exact meaning of “within 7 days” is up for interpretation. Some people are loose with it the notion, believing that “within seven days” includes the day of the statement as the first day.
Others believe that “within 7 days” means exactly 168 hours from the time of the statement. When the statement is made, that would be hour zero. 24 hours after that would be the end of day one, and every 24 hours after would be the end of the next day.
Unfortunately, there is no consensus on this. Different people mean “within 7 days” in different ways. There’s no way to be certain what they mean unless you ask for specifics. Consider these examples:
- If returned within 7 days of purchase, your item will be refunded.
- Your package will be delivered within 7 days.
- Please return this form within 7 days of receipt.
In all these examples, there’s no way to know if the speaker means 168 hours from when “within 7 days” is said or if they mean within seven calendar days, including the day of the statement as the first day.
What Does “Within 7 Days of Receipt” Mean?
“Within 7 days of receipt” means “within 7 days” of you receiving something. For instance, maybe you receive a utility bill in the mail, and it says you must pay “within 7 days of receipt”. That means you have seven days from the time you receive the bill to pay it.
Unfortunately, they could mean “within 168 hours” of receipt or “within seven days” on the calendar. Usually, such situations will include a date to be specific.
- Please return this letter within 7 days of receipt.
- Leave a review for your gift within 7 days of receipt for a chance to win a prize!
What Does “Within 7 Days of Purchase” Mean?
“Within seven days of purchase” simply means “within 7 days” of you buying something. Let’s say that you buy a vacuum cleaner at a store. When you buy it, an employee says that, if you return it “within 7 days of purchase”, you can get a full refund.
That means you have seven days, either starting on the day of your purchase or the exact moment of your purchase, to return the vacuum for a refund.
- Buy a second chair within 7 days of purchase of your first and it’s 50% off!
- If you return this item within 7 days of purchase, we offer a full refund.
Does “Within 7 Days” Include the 7th Day?
While there is much debate over what “within 7 days” means exactly, it is generally understood that the 7th day is included. This can either mean the seventh calendar day from the time of the statement or up to 168 hours from the time of the statement.
Does “Within 7 Days” Include Today?
“Within 7 days” almost always includes “today”, the day that the statement is made. However, it can either mean “starting from this calendar day” or “starting from this hour, with 24 hours from now counting as the first day”.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
