by December

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by December" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate a deadline or a time frame for completing an action or event. Example: "We need to finalize the project by December." Alternative expressions include "before December" and "by the end of December."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

This work will be completed by December.

Independent

By December 6th, prices were rising again.

The Economist

By December, it had 200,000 customers.

The New York Times - Tech

By December 6th the deal was signed.

The Economist

By December 5th, he was dead.

The New Yorker

By December, Maj.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

(Worse? By December 1942?

The New York Times - Books

Offer must be taken up by December 15 2015.

Independent

By December 2013 he was in Syria.

The Guardian

By December 1994, they were exhausted.

The New York Times - Magazine

By December 2003, they were romantically involved.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by December" when you want to emphasize a specific deadline where the action should be completed at any point leading up to or at the start of that month.

Common error

Avoid using "by December" if you mean an action continues throughout the entire month. Instead, use "through December" to denote duration, as "by" implies a terminal point rather than an ongoing process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by December" functions as a temporal prepositional phrase that establishes a boundary or deadline. In the context of the examples provided by Ludwig, it often indicates the latest point in time at which an event occurs or a state is achieved. It acts as an adverbial modifier to the main verb, specifying the 'when' with a sense of completion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "by December" is a vital linguistic tool for establishing clear temporal boundaries and deadlines. Data from Ludwig shows it is most frequently used in News & Media and Science to track milestones and project completions. Whether appearing in The New York Times or a scientific journal, it serves as a reliable marker for a point in time by which an action is expected to occur. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically correct and versatile phrase that writers should use when they want to convey a sense of upcoming completion or a final threshold.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by the end of December

Extends the deadline to include the entire month instead of just its beginning.

no later than December

Adds a more formal and emphatic tone to the deadline requirement.

before December

Sets the completion point strictly earlier than the first day of the month.

prior to December

A more formal academic alternative to "before December".

by December at the latest

Reinforces the strictness of the deadline with extra emphasis.

come December

Focuses on the arrival of the month as the point of realization.

as of December

Indicates the status of something starting exactly at that point in time.

within December

Suggests the action will occur at some unspecified point during the month.

starting in December

Changes the focus from completion to the beginning of an action.

until December

Describes a continuous state that stops when the month begins.

FAQs

How to use "by December" in a sentence?

You can use it to set a target date, such as: "The project must be finished by December."

What is the difference between "by December" and "before December"?

While "by December" often implies completion as the month begins or shortly after, "before December" strictly requires the task to be done before November 30th ends.

Can I say "by the end of December" instead?

Yes, if you wish to allow the entire month for completion, use "by the end of December" for greater precision.

Is "by December" a formal way to set a deadline?

It is perfectly acceptable in formal writing. For even more legal or strict contexts, you might choose "no later than December".