Common mistakes
Till or until: meaning, form, and sentence position
Your train leaves at six, and you have to stay at work until five. One short word tells us where that waiting period ends.
Use till and until for a time limit, choose the form that fits the situation, and place the time clause naturally in a sentence.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
till and until /tɪl ən ʌnˈtɪl/
The short answer
Use till and until to mean up to a particular time. They can come before a time expression or before a clause. Until is more formal, while till is more informal.
Please stay here until the meeting ends.
Why it works: The instruction continues up to the end of the meeting.
3 more examples
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The library is open until eight o'clock.
Until comes before a time expression and shows when the library's opening hours end.
Not this:The library is open
at eight o'clock. What changes: At names one time. Until describes a period that continues up to that time. -
We cannot start till everyone is ready.
The negative main clause shows that starting must wait for everyone.
Not this:We can start
as soon as everyone is ready. What changes: As soon as focuses on the starting moment after the condition is met. -
Until the rain stops, the workers will stay inside.
The time clause comes first, so a comma separates it from the main clause.
Not this:The workers will stay inside
until the rain stops. What changes: The same time relationship appears after the main clause, where a comma is usually unnecessary.
Read the full guide
Choose until when you are writing a formal email, a report, or instructions for a wide audience. Choose till in relaxed speech or an informal message. The time meaning stays the same.
Choose a time limit
Use till or until when an action or state continues up to a particular time. The word shows an end point, not a length of time.
I will be in the office until four.
Until four means that being in the office continues before four and ends around that time.
Use either form, then match the situation
Till and until have the same usual time meaning. Until is more suitable for formal writing, public instructions, and careful business messages. Till is normal in informal speech and friendly writing.
The application remains open until Friday.
I will wait till you get home.
Which word would you usually choose in a job application deadline?
Choose until. Till is correct, but until has a more formal tone.
Follow it with a time or a clause
After till or until, use a time expression or a clause. A time expression can be a day, clock time, or event. A clause has a subject and a verb.
The shop is closed until Monday.
The shop is closed until the manager arrives.
Monday is a time expression. The manager arrives is a clause that names the event that ends the waiting period.
Place the time clause where it reads clearly
A till or until clause can follow the main clause. It can also come first when the time condition needs emphasis. An opening clause is often followed by a comma.
Keep the receipt until you receive the refund.
Until you receive the refund, keep the receipt.
Does the second sentence change the basic time meaning?
No. It gives more attention to the time condition by putting it first.
Read negative sentences carefully
A negative main clause often means that an action cannot happen before the time or event named after until. Read the whole sentence to see which action is delayed.
Do not open the door until you hear the signal.
The instruction is to wait for the signal. Opening the door happens only after the signal.
Avoid untill with two l letters. For formal writing, avoid 'til as well and use until.
Before you go
Remember this
Till and until mean up to a time. Use them before a time expression or a clause. Until suits formal writing, while till often sounds more relaxed. Check the whole sentence when a later action must wait for that time.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Till or until: meaning, form, and sentence position"
Is there a difference between till and until?
Till and until usually mean the same thing: up to a particular time. Until is more common in formal writing, while till is common in informal speech and messages.
The library is open until eight o'clock.
Can I use till before a clause?
Yes. You can use till before a clause with a subject and verb, as in I will wait till you finish. You can also use it before a time expression such as till Friday.
The library is open at eight o'clock.
Should I write till, 'til, or until?
Use until for formal writing. Till is a standard word in less formal contexts. 'Til is an informal shortened spelling and is better avoided in professional or academic writing.
We cannot start till everyone is ready.
Where does an until clause go in a sentence?
An until clause can follow the main clause or come first. Write We will wait until the bus arrives, or Until the bus arrives, we will wait. An opening clause usually takes a comma.
We can start as soon as everyone is ready.
Is untill correct?
No. The standard spelling is until with one l. Till also has one l. Check this spelling in formal messages, because untill is a common learner error.
Until the rain stops, the workers will stay inside.
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