till that time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "till that time" is correct and usable in written English when referring to a specific point in the future.
For example: "We will continue working hard on the project until that time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Till that time it is primarily personal contacts.'".

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Till that time, the patient had neither received antiviral drugs nor indication for repeating virological or liver tests.

BMC Gastroenterology

At the close of that congress M. de Lanessan, formerly Governor-General of Indo-China, who had up till that time been president of the association, retired, and was succeeded by Prof. Wyndham Dunstan, C.M.G., F.R.S., director of the Imperial Institute.

Nature

Mr. Tyers opened it with an advertisement of a Ridotto al Fresco, a term which the people of this country had till that time been strangers to.

Wikipedia

"Up till that time I was not the favorite.

The New York Times

Up till that time, I'd been living in a kind of limbo state.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Till the time that patients perceive being supervised as equated to being considered irresponsible, this is unlikely to change.

BMC Public Health

The choice of name was kept secret right up till that 00.01 hours launch time.

Forbes

Why did the Founding Fathers decide to eat at six when everybody else on the planet waits till 10? Like that time you snagged the one Euro flight to Finland in an online promo.

HuffPost

It is also testing a "rapid scan" till that can scan groceries three times as fast as any human.

The Guardian - Business

The gentlemen of Lucknow do not speak like this.' This also shows that up till this time Mīr Anīs did not want to call himself a resident of Lucknow.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "till that time", ensure the context clearly establishes the specific time being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "till that time" when "by that time" is more appropriate. "Till that time" indicates a duration leading up to a point, while "by that time" indicates a deadline or a specific point when something will be completed or in effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "till that time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, clause, or sentence. According to Ludwig's AI, it defines a time boundary indicating duration up to a specific moment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "till that time" is a grammatically correct and readily understandable phrase used to indicate a duration leading up to a specific moment. According to Ludwig, this phrase functions as an adverbial phrase, setting a temporal limit. While not extremely common, it is used in diverse contexts, from news and media to science and academia. For more formal writing, alternatives like "until that time" or "prior to that" may be preferred. When employing "till that time", clarity is key—ensure the referenced time is unambiguous.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Until that time

Replaces "till" with "until", maintaining the same meaning.

Up to that time

Uses "up to" instead of "till", slightly emphasizing the cumulative period leading to the time mentioned.

Before then

A more concise alternative, omitting "that time" but implying the same reference.

Prior to that

A slightly more formal substitute for "before then", indicating a time preceding a specific event.

Until that moment

Substitutes "time" with "moment", focusing on a specific instant rather than a duration.

Previous to that

Similar to 'prior to that', this option is more formal.

In the interim

Suggests a period between two events, offering a broader temporal context.

In the meantime

Similar to 'in the interim', but can imply more immediacy or shorter duration.

Leading up to that point

Highlights the events or circumstances that occur before the specified time.

Beforehand

A simple, direct alternative that emphasizes the time preceding an event, but is more vague.

FAQs

What does "till that time" mean?

"Till that time" refers to the period leading up to a specific moment or event. It indicates a duration before something happens.

How is "till that time" different from "until that time"?

The phrases "till that time" and "until that time" are nearly synonymous. The distinction is very slight, with "until" being somewhat more formal, but in practice, they are often interchangeable.

Can I use "before that" instead of "till that time"?

Yes, you can use "before that" as a shorter alternative to "till that time", but ensure that the context makes it clear what you are referring to. "Till that time" provides a more explicit reference to the previously mentioned time.

Is "till that time" formal or informal?

"Till that time" is considered relatively neutral in formality and can be used in various writing contexts, though more formal writing might prefer "until that time" or "prior to that".