Business grammar tips
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When to use ‘until’ and ‘by’
In the articles on collection letters and making a hotel reservation by phone, you will have noticed two different ways of saying the German ‘bis’.
Compare these sentences:
Payment is requested by June 7. This means you can pay any time between now and June 7. Payments received after June 7 will be too late.
The hotel is fully booked until the end of May.
This means you can stay at the hotel in June.
I will be in the office by 10 am. = I will arrive at the office at 10 am at the latest.
I will be in the office until 10 am. = I will leave the office at 10 am.
Test yourself -
1. I waited for the post ............. 10 am but it didn’t arrive. It’s usually there .............. 9.30.
2. Can I borrow your pocket calculator .......... this evening? – You can keep it .......... tomorrow, if you want. I don’t need it ............ Wednesday.
3. If you are not at the airport .............. 2 pm you’ll miss your flight.
4. If things haven’t changed dramatically ............ 2006 the majority of secretaries will have more than two bosses.
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Answers
1 until - by; 2 until - until - until; 3 by; 4 by.