by when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask when something will be completed or concluded. For example: "Can you tell me by when the project needs to be finished?".

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Stop by when you get back".

The New Yorker

Stop by when you are able, free of charge.

Princeton University

Add a perfunctory "by" when denoting locations.

WikiHow

But by when?

The Guardian - Business

"By when?" "Late tonight".

The New Yorker

Minutes drag by when we are bored.

The Guardian

They did not say by when.

The New York Times

Come by when you have a minute".

The New Yorker

Just drop by when you're in town.

The New Yorker

By when this new technology is expected to be commercialized?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Start times are determined by when groups can arrive.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by when", ensure clarity by specifying the unit of time you're referring to (e.g., "by when this week", "by when tomorrow", "by when the end of the month").

Common error

Avoid using "by when" vaguely. Instead of saying "I need it by when?", be specific: "I need it by when this Friday?" or "I need it by when the meeting starts?". This provides a clearer timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by when" functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase, typically used to inquire about a deadline or a specific timeframe for the completion of a task or event. It seeks to establish a limit. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by when" is a common and grammatically correct way to inquire about a deadline. It functions as an interrogative prepositional phrase with a neutral register, suitable for various contexts ranging from news and media to academia. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase. When using "by when", it's essential to be specific to avoid vagueness and ensure clear communication. Alternative phrases such as "by what date" or "until when" can provide slightly different nuances depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by what date

Focuses specifically on a calendar date as the deadline, rather than a more general timeframe.

by what time

Similar to "by what date", but specifies a time of day for the deadline.

by which date

More formal alternative, emphasizing the specific date as a deadline.

by which time

More formal alternative, emphasizing the specific time as a deadline.

until when

Emphasizes the duration leading up to the deadline, rather than the deadline itself.

before what date

Specifies that something must be completed before a particular date.

prior to what time

Formal way of asking for a deadline before a specific time.

at what point

More general inquiry about the specific time or stage at which something should be done.

when is the deadline

Directly asks for the deadline, framing it as a noun.

what's the latest

Informal way of asking for the latest possible time or date for something to be completed.

FAQs

How can I use "by when" in a sentence?

You can use "by when" to ask for a deadline or the latest possible time something should be completed. For example, "By when do you need the report?" or "Can you tell me "by when" we should expect the delivery?"

What's a more formal way to ask "by when"?

For a more formal approach, you could ask "By which date do you require this?" or "By which time should this be completed?". These alternatives are suitable for professional correspondence or official requests.

Is it correct to say "until when" instead of "by when"?

"Until when" can be used to inquire about the duration leading up to a deadline, whereas "by when" specifically asks for the deadline itself. For example, "Until when can I submit the application?" focuses on the allowable submission period, while "By when must the application be submitted?" asks for the final submission date.

What common mistakes should I avoid when using "by when"?

Ensure your question is clear and unambiguous. Avoid using "by when" in vague contexts. Instead of saying "I need it by when?", specify a timeframe such as "I need it "by what date"?" or "I need it by the end of the week?" to avoid confusion.