Difference Between By Then And Until Then
By and until are both prepositions of time. By is used when something is accomplished before a specified time, while until means up to a certain point. However, since something is ongoing, a change happens when that point is reached. Listed below are some examples.
If you’ve ever wondered what the difference was between “by then” and “until then,” you’re not alone. It’s a common question among writers and students alike since this can significantly impact how long something is going to take.
It’s pretty easy once you break it down. By then is used when we’re talking about something happening before or on a specific date in the future. On the other hand, it has more of an open-ended meaning – it can refer to any unspecified point in the future without being specific about when it will happen.
That may not be very clear at first glance, but if you think back to every time you might have encountered these phrases…
__”I’ll work on that by tomorrow.”
__”We should hang out until then.”
…you probably won’t be surprised by this explanation. As you can see, “by then” in the first example refers to a specific date, whereas “until then” in the second example isn’t. It could refer to any time or day in the future that hasn’t yet been specified. So while all but one of these phrases contain the word ‘then,’ they aren’t interchangeable!
Fun fact: If you’re writing about a hypothetical event that hasn’t happened yet, then it would be the correct choice to use!
__”I’ll walk you to the door until then.”
__”Is there anything I can do until then?”
__”Did she get her hair cut until now?” __”Are these things going to help me until then?” __”Do you think they’ll be ready by then?” __ “How’s your work coming along? Anything I can do to help?”
By using “until then,” you’re giving your readers an idea of how long something will take. On the other hand, if you used “by then,” your readers don’t have a clear idea of when this will happen – even if it’s on a specific date.
No matter which option you choose, it’s essential to understand this fundamental rule: never use both “by then” and “until then” in the same sentence!
How To Use By Then and Until The End Of Time In A Sentence + Example Sentences
Here are some examples of how to use these phrases in sentences:
– Now that I’ve got my license, I can drive us back. So I’ll be ready by then. – Until then, we’ll walk back to the house together.
Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time are used to express when events happen in a clause. They may be used singly or in a series. Similar meanings can also be expressed using temporal nouns, frequency adverbs, or serial adverbs. A typical example is “Tony works from nine AM until five PM and eats lunch at five PM, dinner after work.” Thus, Tony eats four times in twelve hours.
By is a preposition that means “before” or “up to.” It shows the relation between two elements in a sentence until a preposition is used to indicate time limits and deadlines. By is often confused with Until because of its similarity to a time frame.
Prepositions of time help express relationships between objects and subjects. They indicate the specific time when something occurred or will happen and also express a general period. A typical example is “by then” and “until then.” However, these words are not limited to these two examples.
Aside from time and place, prepositions of time can indicate a different type of relationship. For example, by then and until then can be used to indicate the length of a calendar month. Another everyday use is to indicate the length of a calendar month or week. For example, a blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month. Solstices occur twice a year when the sun reaches its northernmost or southernmost point.
Learning to use prepositions can help you become more familiar with their use. They are not hard to remember, but they can require some practice. Most prepositions do not have a direct 1:1 translation, so it’s essential to be patient and practice.
Meaning of By
When speaking English, the expression “by then and until then” means by that time or until that time. Often, it’s used in phrases to indicate a relationship in time, such as “at that time, next year.” Both “by then” and “until then” compare or refer to past events. The words were used interchangeably in Middle English, but they’re now treated differently in modern writing.
Meaning of Until
The word until is used to indicate the duration of something. It emphasizes the end, such as “the deadline for the essay is Friday.” The alternative form, “up until,” indicates a duration from a specific point in time to another but is used only in informal situations. Hence, they should be used with care.
Until has many synonyms, including Before, Continuously, Before, Up To, Down to, and In Advance. It can be used with any of these words and more. In addition, until can be used with other words like Before, Before, As Far As, Up To, and Down to.
Even though until and till are synonyms, many people think of the former as an abbreviated form. Till was a word in English a century before until was created. It is a preposition or conjunction and has been used since the 12th century as long as it is used correctly until it is a valid synonym of until.
The word until is the correct term, although it can also be used as a substitute for the noun till. This is because the former has a single syllable, while the till has two. In general, the longer word until is preferred in formal writing, while till conveys a casual tone. However, both words are used interchangeably.
Meaning of Since
The preposition “since” can be used to describe a time interval, which refers to an event that began in the past. Similarly, until is used to describe an action that occurred up to a point in time; for example, Ursula graduated from college in 2006 but has not been seen since.
This usage is widespread in business situations and can also be used in casual conversation. Regardless of how you use this expression, remember that since means “since that time” if the action took place. You should also be aware of the difference between “since” and “until” and avoid using them interchangeably.
Meaning of Before
Before then are two phrases that refer to earlier periods. For example, “the cat ran away from the dog’s barking” means that the cat ran away from the dog’s barking, not “the cat ran away; the dog barked.” Likewise, “the cat ran away from the cat’s barking” means that something else caused both events, so it is not grammatically correct to use commas before and after them.
The difference between before and then is mainly in the order of the words. Although the two words mean the same thing, the “before” word is more common. Therefore, before discussing the order of events in a speech or writing, it is essential to use the right word for the context.
Before then can be confusing when used in writing, so it’s essential to make sure you know the difference. It’s best to use a comma in the same spot where you would use a pause in a speech. The comma will help make the sentence clearer.
Commas can be confusing. They’re also used in conjunction with coordinating conjunctions. However, they’re not required in conjunction with “then” in a sentence when there are two independent clauses. The sentence would still express cause and effect without the commas. And while they help express your point of view, they shouldn’t be used in conversations where you’re trying to convince others of your opinion.
Difference Between By Then And Until Then
By and until are both prepositions of time. By is used when something is accomplished before a specified time, while until means up to a certain point. However, since something is ongoing, a change happens when that point is reached. Listed below are some examples.
If you’ve ever wondered what the difference was between “by then” and “until then,” you’re not alone. It’s a common question among writers and students alike since this can significantly impact how long something is going to take.
It’s pretty easy once you break it down. By then is used when we’re talking about something happening before or on a specific date in the future. On the other hand, it has more of an open-ended meaning – it can refer to any unspecified point in the future without being specific about when it will happen.
That may not be very clear at first glance, but if you think back to every time you might have encountered these phrases…
__”I’ll work on that by tomorrow.”
__”We should hang out until then.”
…you probably won’t be surprised by this explanation. As you can see, “by then” in the first example refers to a specific date, whereas “until then” in the second example isn’t. It could refer to any time or day in the future that hasn’t yet been specified. So while all but one of these phrases contain the word ‘then,’ they aren’t interchangeable!
Fun fact: If you’re writing about a hypothetical event that hasn’t happened yet, then it would be the correct choice to use!
__”I’ll walk you to the door until then.”
__”Is there anything I can do until then?”
__”Did she get her hair cut until now?” __”Are these things going to help me until then?” __”Do you think they’ll be ready by then?” __ “How’s your work coming along? Anything I can do to help?”
By using “until then,” you’re giving your readers an idea of how long something will take. On the other hand, if you used “by then,” your readers don’t have a clear idea of when this will happen – even if it’s on a specific date.
No matter which option you choose, it’s essential to understand this fundamental rule: never use both “by then” and “until then” in the same sentence!
How To Use By Then and Until The End Of Time In A Sentence + Example Sentences
Here are some examples of how to use these phrases in sentences:
– Now that I’ve got my license, I can drive us back. So I’ll be ready by then. – Until then, we’ll walk back to the house together.
Prepositions of Time
Prepositions of time are used to express when events happen in a clause. They may be used singly or in a series. Similar meanings can also be expressed using temporal nouns, frequency adverbs, or serial adverbs. A typical example is “Tony works from nine AM until five PM and eats lunch at five PM, dinner after work.” Thus, Tony eats four times in twelve hours.
By is a preposition that means “before” or “up to.” It shows the relation between two elements in a sentence until a preposition is used to indicate time limits and deadlines. By is often confused with Until because of its similarity to a time frame.
Prepositions of time help express relationships between objects and subjects. They indicate the specific time when something occurred or will happen and also express a general period. A typical example is “by then” and “until then.” However, these words are not limited to these two examples.
Aside from time and place, prepositions of time can indicate a different type of relationship. For example, by then and until then can be used to indicate the length of a calendar month. Another everyday use is to indicate the length of a calendar month or week. For example, a blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month. Solstices occur twice a year when the sun reaches its northernmost or southernmost point.
Learning to use prepositions can help you become more familiar with their use. They are not hard to remember, but they can require some practice. Most prepositions do not have a direct 1:1 translation, so it’s essential to be patient and practice.
Meaning of By
When speaking English, the expression “by then and until then” means by that time or until that time. Often, it’s used in phrases to indicate a relationship in time, such as “at that time, next year.” Both “by then” and “until then” compare or refer to past events. The words were used interchangeably in Middle English, but they’re now treated differently in modern writing.
Meaning of Until
The word until is used to indicate the duration of something. It emphasizes the end, such as “the deadline for the essay is Friday.” The alternative form, “up until,” indicates a duration from a specific point in time to another but is used only in informal situations. Hence, they should be used with care.
Until has many synonyms, including Before, Continuously, Before, Up To, Down to, and In Advance. It can be used with any of these words and more. In addition, until can be used with other words like Before, Before, As Far As, Up To, and Down to.
Even though until and till are synonyms, many people think of the former as an abbreviated form. Till was a word in English a century before until was created. It is a preposition or conjunction and has been used since the 12th century as long as it is used correctly until it is a valid synonym of until.
The word until is the correct term, although it can also be used as a substitute for the noun till. This is because the former has a single syllable, while the till has two. In general, the longer word until is preferred in formal writing, while till conveys a casual tone. However, both words are used interchangeably.
Meaning of Since
The preposition “since” can be used to describe a time interval, which refers to an event that began in the past. Similarly, until is used to describe an action that occurred up to a point in time; for example, Ursula graduated from college in 2006 but has not been seen since.
This usage is widespread in business situations and can also be used in casual conversation. Regardless of how you use this expression, remember that since means “since that time” if the action took place. You should also be aware of the difference between “since” and “until” and avoid using them interchangeably.
Meaning of Before
Before then are two phrases that refer to earlier periods. For example, “the cat ran away from the dog’s barking” means that the cat ran away from the dog’s barking, not “the cat ran away; the dog barked.” Likewise, “the cat ran away from the cat’s barking” means that something else caused both events, so it is not grammatically correct to use commas before and after them.
The difference between before and then is mainly in the order of the words. Although the two words mean the same thing, the “before” word is more common. Therefore, before discussing the order of events in a speech or writing, it is essential to use the right word for the context.
Before then can be confusing when used in writing, so it’s essential to make sure you know the difference. It’s best to use a comma in the same spot where you would use a pause in a speech. The comma will help make the sentence clearer.
Commas can be confusing. They’re also used in conjunction with coordinating conjunctions. However, they’re not required in conjunction with “then” in a sentence when there are two independent clauses. The sentence would still express cause and effect without the commas. And while they help express your point of view, they shouldn’t be used in conversations where you’re trying to convince others of your opinion.
