done by tonight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "done by tonight" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a task or assignment should be completed before the end of the day. Example: "Please make sure the report is done by tonight so we can review it in the morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I believe that everyone but the assailant and his mother will be done by tonight.

The Guardian

Let's get this task done by tonight.

Human Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

And all this had to be done by midday.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What are they going to do then that they won't have done by midnight?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I like to get out on the course by 8 in the morning so I'm done by noon.

The New York Times

It was carried out entirely by N.G.O.s, and all the flying had to be done by night, as the planes were under constant fire from Nigerian forces.

The New Yorker

Parading Through February Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will make its way down Central Park West and down Broadway toward Herald Square for the 75th time today and be done by noon.

The New York Times

The sleeper bus is critical because techies often have to strike a set after an evening performance (ending around 10), pack it up (usually done by midnight), drive hundreds of miles (1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m... ) and then wake up at 8 a.m. to assemble the set again.

The New York Times

The deal had to be done by midnight before the bidders' exclusivity period expired with the club's administrators.

BBC

"I hope that everything we need to complete it will be done by noon tomorrow," Strudwick added.

BBC

Your life is not something that has to be done by noon.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When setting deadlines, be specific about what "done" entails. Clearly define the expected outcome to avoid misunderstandings.

Common error

Avoid using "done by tonight" without clarifying the expected level of completion. Ensure everyone understands whether it means fully completed, partially completed, or simply started.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "done by tonight" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying a deadline or timeframe for the completion of an action or task. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The phrase indicates when something should be finished.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "done by tonight" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible expression used to indicate that a task or obligation is expected to be fulfilled before the end of the current day. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceptionally frequent, the phrase appears across various contexts, with higher representation in news media. For formal communications, alternatives like "completed by this evening" may be preferred. When using this phrase, it's beneficial to explicitly define what is implied with "done". The key takeaway is that while universally understood, context and audience should guide stylistic choices. Ludwig Examples illustrate its use in project deadlines.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completed by this evening

Replaces "done" with "completed" and "tonight" with "this evening" for a slightly more formal tone.

must be completed tonight

Adds emphasis to the requirement of finishing something by tonight.

due tonight

A shorter, more direct way of indicating that something needs to be completed by the end of the night.

finished before the night is over

Uses a more descriptive approach to express the same meaning of completing something before the end of the night.

ready by the end of the day

Substitutes "tonight" with "the end of the day", broadening the timeframe slightly.

to be finalized this evening

Focuses on the finalization aspect and uses "this evening" instead of "tonight".

concluded by nighttime

Replaces "tonight" with "nighttime", offering a slightly different stylistic choice.

achieved by the close of business

Suitable in a professional setting where "close of business" implies the end of the working day.

sorted by this night

A more colloquial alternative, implying that the task needs to be taken care of before the day ends.

in the bag by nightfall

An idiomatic way of saying that something will be successfully completed by the evening.

FAQs

How can I use "done by tonight" in a sentence?

You can use "done by tonight" to set a deadline for a task. For example, "Please ensure the presentation is "completed by tonight"" or "I need this report "finished by tonight".

What's a more formal alternative to "done by tonight"?

A more formal alternative would be "completed by this evening" or "must be finalized by the end of the day". These options sound more professional in written communication.

Is it okay to use "done by tonight" in a business email?

Yes, it's generally acceptable, but consider your audience. If you're communicating with senior management or clients, a slightly more formal phrase like "completed by this evening" might be preferable.

What does "done by tonight" imply about the task's urgency?

It implies that the task needs to be completed before the end of the current day. It suggests a degree of urgency, indicating that the task cannot be postponed until the following day.