Word Choice - Until Versus Till | Ontario Training Network

A BizWtitingTip reader wants to know when you use until versus till. Until is a preposition and means “up to or as late as,” “up to the time of,” “up to the time when,” and “so long that.”

Examples

We waited until 6 p.m.

The project was on time until the project manager left.

I worked on the computer until my eyes hurt.

Although till is not used as often, it is regarded as an accepted variant for until. However, you should not start a sentence with it.

Incorrect

Till we get the new figures, we can’t complete the estimates.

Correct

Until we get the new figures, we can’t complete the estimates.

To paraphrase an old cowboy singing duo, good writing, “until we meet again.”