once until today

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once until today" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to attempt to express a time frame but lacks clarity and coherence. Example: "I had only seen him once until today, when we finally met again."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mr. Ackermann's contract has already been extended once, until 2013, and he vows that he won't stay on beyond then.

The New York Times

Mr Fukuda has already extended the Diet's current extraordinary session once, until December 15th, so that the refuelling bill can be deliberated in the upper house.

The Economist

She once lasted until December 23rd, when an upbeat, contemporary rendition piped into a room.

The New Yorker

The trial of a London businessman who prosecutors say agreed to provide weapons to a Federal Bureau of Investigation informer posing as a Somali terrorist has been delayed once again, until April 18.

The New York Times

Starting in autumn 1994, blood samples from all female animals in the herd were collected once yearly until 1999.

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

The full database was used once again (until June 15 , 2004 when this site, as well as three other PESs, participated in assessing the multiple PES patterns of use.

BMC Psychiatry

"We've brought him up through the ranks, so he's got an allegiance to us only until next year, once that's over, he can do what he likes if he doesn't sign a longer contract.

BBC

No one else made 15 feet even once until Bob Richards in 1951.

The New York Times - Sports

Wigan, to put it into context, had been to the quarter-finals of this competition only once, in 1987, until this season.

The Guardian - Sport

After leaving YMS in 1977, Gendron returned "about once a year" until 1983.

Independent

Parliamentary elections, a central part of the American-led effort to establish a stable democracy in Afghanistan, are nearly certain to be delayed once again, probably until next spring, Afghan and foreign officials said Thursday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "once until today", consider rephrasing to clarify your intended meaning. For example, use "only once before today" to indicate a single occurrence prior to the present.

Common error

Avoid combining "once" with "until today" as it creates a grammatically unsound phrase. "Once" typically refers to a single instance, while "until today" specifies a duration leading up to the present. Using them together results in a confusing and non-standard construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once until today" is grammatically incorrect as it attempts to combine a single instance ("once") with a duration leading to the present ("until today"). This results in an incoherent expression.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "once until today" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. It attempts to combine a single instance with a duration, creating an incoherent expression. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase does not convey a clear meaning. Instead, consider using alternatives like "only once before today" or "just once prior to today" to accurately express a single occurrence prior to the present. Due to its incorrectness, this phrase is unsuitable for any writing register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only once before today

This alternative specifies a single occurrence prior to the current day, highlighting the infrequency and contrasting it with the present moment.

just once prior to today

Adding "just" emphasizes the singularity of the event before today, conveying a sense of rarity or uniqueness.

previously, only one time

This version uses more formal vocabulary to express the idea of a single past occurrence, suitable for more formal contexts.

a single time before now

This option is more emphatic, stressing the singularity of the event up to the present moment.

only on one occasion thus far

The phrase employs a more formal tone and emphasizes the limited number of times the event has happened.

just one instance until now

This version highlights the isolated nature of the event and its continuation to the present.

one time, but not since then

This alternative emphasizes the single occurrence and the lack of repetition since that time.

a solitary instance until the present

The phrase uses elevated language to describe the uniqueness of the event up to now.

merely once in the past

The addition of "merely" underscores the minimal frequency of the event in the past.

once and no more until today

This option directly states the single occurrence and explicitly denies any repetition up to the current day.

FAQs

How can I properly express a single occurrence before today?

Instead of "once until today", you can use phrases like "only once before today" or "just once prior to today" to clearly indicate a single instance in the past.

What's wrong with the phrase "once until today"?

The phrase "once until today" is grammatically awkward and doesn't follow standard English usage. It's better to use clearer alternatives to convey your intended meaning.

Are there more formal alternatives to "once until today"?

Yes, you can use more formal phrases such as "previously, only one time" or "only on one occasion thus far" in formal contexts.

How can I emphasize the infrequency of an event before today?

To emphasize the infrequency, you can use phrases like "just one instance until now" or "a single time before now" instead of the unclear phrase "once until today".