By vs. Until: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on December 27, 2023
"By" indicates a deadline for an action's completion, whereas "Until" specifies the duration for which an action continues.
Key Differences
By is used to denote a point in time before which an action or event is to be completed, emphasizing the deadline. Until signifies the continuation of an action up to a certain point, focusing on the ongoing nature until that time.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
An example of By is "Submit the report by Friday," indicating the report should be completed any time before Friday. In contrast, Until is used as in "Work until 5 PM," suggesting the action of working continues up to, but not beyond, 5 PM.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
By is often associated with a specific time or deadline, and the action can occur at any time before that. Until implies a continuous action that stops when the specified time or event occurs.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
In terms of usage, By is more about the endpoint of an action, while Until describes the period leading up to that endpoint. By does not necessarily imply continuous action up to that point, unlike Until.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
By is generally used in the context of deadlines or goals, as in "Finish the assignment by Monday." Until is used to describe the duration of an ongoing action, as in "The store is open until midnight."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Time Reference
Indicates the latest time by which something should happen
Specifies how long something should continue
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Dec 27, 2023
Nature of Action
Can occur any time before the deadline
Continuous action up to the point in time
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Dec 27, 2023
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By and Until Definitions
By
"By" indicates a deadline for completing an action.
She needs to finish the project by next Wednesday.
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Dec 15, 2023
Until
"Until" is used to signify the continuation of a state or action.
Keep the door closed until I return.
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Dec 15, 2023
By
"By" can denote proximity in terms of location.
The coffee shop is located by the train station.
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Dec 15, 2023
Until
"Until" can imply a condition that needs to be fulfilled.
You cannot leave until you finish your work.
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Dec 15, 2023
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Until
"Until" often refers to an ongoing condition that is temporary.
The park is closed until further notice.
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Dec 15, 2023
Until
"Until" means up to the point in time or event mentioned.
The shop remains open until midnight.
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Dec 15, 2023
Until
"Until" can indicate the time when something will stop.
Wait here until the rain stops.
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Dec 15, 2023
Until
To the point or extent that
I talked until I was hoarse. See Usage Note at till2.
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Dec 13, 2023
Until
Up to the time of (something happening).
If you can wait until after my meeting with her, we'll talk then.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Used to indicate a succession of specified individuals, groups, or quantities
One by one they left. They were persuaded little by little.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Toward. Used to express direction with points of the compass
South by east.
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Dec 13, 2023
Until
To; unto; towards; - used of material objects.
Taverners until them told the same.
He roused himself full blithe, and hastened them until.
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Dec 13, 2023
Until
To; up to; till; before; - used of time; as, he staid until evening; he will not come back until the end of the month.
He and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
From one side of something to the other, passing close by; past.
The stream runs by our back door.
He ran straight by me.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval).
Be back by ten o'clock!.
We'll find someone by the end of March.
We will send it by the first week of July.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Indicates the person or thing that does or causes something: Through the action or presence of.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Following a passive verb.
The matter was decided by the chairman.
The boat was swamped by the water.
He was protected by his body armour.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
(not in common modern use) Following an adjective.
I was aghast by what I saw.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Indicates the creator of a work: Existing through the authorship etc. of.
There are many well-known plays by William Shakespeare
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Indicates a means of achieving something: Involving/using the means of.
I avoided the guards by moving only when they weren't looking.
By Pythagoras' theorem, we can calculate the length of the hippopotamus.
We went by bus.
I discovered it by chance.
By 'maybe' she means 'no'.
The electricity was cut off, so we had to read by candlelight.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Indicates an authority according to which something is done.
By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Invokes an authority in an oath.
By Jove! I think she's got it!
By all that is holy, I'll put an end to this.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Indicates a means of classification or organisation.
I sorted the items by category.
Table 1 shows details of our employees broken down by sex and age.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Indicates the amount of change, difference or discrepancy
Our stock is up by ten percent.
His date of birth was wrong by ten years.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
In the formulae X by X and by Xs, indicates a steady progression, one X after another.
We went through the book page by page.
We crawled forward by inches.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Acted on in units of the specified size or measure. (Sometimes hyperbolically)
Sold by the yard; cheaper if bought by the gross
He drinks brandy by the bucketful!
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Per; with or in proportion to each.
His health was deteriorating by the day.
The pickers are paid by the bushel.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Indicates a referenced source: According to.
He cheated by his own admission.
By my reckoning, we should be nearly there.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Used to separate dimensions when describing the size of something.
It is easy to invert a 2-by-2 matrix.
The room was about 4 foot by 6 foot.
The bricks used to build the wall measured 10 by 20 by 30 cm.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
(horse breeding) Designates a horse's male parent (sire); cf. out of.
She's a lovely little filly, by Big Lad, out of Damsel in Distress.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
At, with, among
Are you eating by Rabbi Fischer? (at the house of)
By Chabad, it's different. (with, among)
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Dec 13, 2023
By
To or at a place, as a residence or place of business.
I'll stop by on my way home from work.
We're right near the lifeguard station. Come by before you leave.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Aside, away.
The women spent much time after harvest putting jams by for winter and spring.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
In the neighborhood of; near or next to; not far from; close to; along with; as, come and sit by me.
By foundation or by shady rivuletHe sought them both.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
On; along; in traversing. Compare 5.
Long labors both by sea and land he bore.
By land, by water, they renew the charge.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Near to, while passing; hence, from one to the other side of; past; as, to go by a church.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Used in specifying adjacent dimensions; as, a cabin twenty feet by forty.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
With, as means, way, process, etc.; through means of; with aid of; through; through the act or agency of; as, a city is destroyed by fire; profit is made by commerce; to take by force.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Near; in the neighborhood; present; as, there was no person by at the time.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Passing near; going past; past; beyond; as, the procession has gone by; a bird flew by.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
Out of the common path; aside; - used in composition, giving the meaning of something aside, secondary, or incidental, or collateral matter, a thing private or avoiding notice; as, by-line, by-place, by-play, by-street. It was formerly more freely used in composition than it is now; as, by-business, by-concernment, by-design, by-interest, etc.
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Dec 13, 2023
By
In reserve; not for immediate use;
Started setting aside money to buy a car
Put something by for her old age
Has a nestegg tucked away for a rainy day
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Dec 13, 2023
By
"By" is used to specify the latest time something should happen.
The application must be submitted by April 1st.
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Dec 15, 2023
By
"By" can indicate the agent performing an action in passive voice.
The novel was written by a famous author.
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Dec 15, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "until" refer to a specific time?
Yes, "until" refers to a specific time up to which an action continues.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Is "until" used in future tense?
Yes, "until" is commonly used in future tense constructions.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can "by" and "until" be used interchangeably?
No, "by" and "until" have different meanings and are not interchangeable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Can "by" be used to indicate location?
Yes, "by" can indicate proximity in terms of location.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
What is the difference in meaning when using "by" and "until"?
"By" indicates a deadline, whereas "until" indicates the duration an action continues.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Are there exceptions in using "by" and "until"?
Usage can vary in idiomatic expressions, but the basic meanings generally remain consistent.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Is "by" only used with time?
Primarily, yes, but it can also indicate means or agency.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Does "by" imply a specific duration?
No, "by" sets a deadline but does not specify the duration of an action.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Does "until" always mean something will stop at that point?
Typically, yes, it implies an action or state will continue up to that point.
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Dec 27, 2023
Is "by" used in passive voice constructions?
Yes, "by" often indicates the agent in passive voice sentences.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can "until" be used to refer to past events?
Yes, "until" can be used for past events, especially in narrative or retrospective contexts.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can "by" be used in informal speech?
Yes, "by" is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can "by" indicate a range of time?
No, "by" specifies the end point of a time range, not the range itself.
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Dec 27, 2023
How does "until" impact the verb tense in a sentence?
"Until" typically requires a present or past tense verb, depending on the context.
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Dec 27, 2023
Can "by" be used to express efficiency?
Yes, in the sense of indicating a method, as in "sending a message by email."
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Dec 27, 2023
Can "by" be used for deadlines in a professional setting?
Yes, "by" is often used to set deadlines in professional and academic contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
How does context affect the use of "by" and "until"?
The intended meaning of the sentence and the specific time-related aspects determine the appropriate use of "by" and "until."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
How does "by" function in a sentence?
"By" functions to set a deadline or indicate a method or agent in a sentence.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Can "until" be used to show conditions?
Yes, "until" can indicate a condition or requirement for something to happen.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Is "until" used in legal or formal documents?
Yes, "until" is often used in legal or formal contexts to indicate duration or conditions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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