until I mentioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until I mentioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was not known or acknowledged prior to the speaker bringing it up in conversation. Example: "The issue seemed unimportant until I mentioned it during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Until I mentioned the painter's name.

The New York Times

She was giggly and fun until I mentioned I had a sweetheart, Tracy, back in Montana.

The New Yorker

Until I mentioned it to him, Meinhardt had forgotten about the loss.

The New York Times - Sports

The athletes in Gondar were sceptical about the possibility until I mentioned drugs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He suggested one additional lesson, on the highway — until I mentioned that I didn't yet have a license.

The New York Times

"His guards weren't going to let me near him until I mentioned that I had interviewed Dr Guevara," said Quinlan.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

It would appear they've seen nothing of my work until I mention that I once wrote a travel book called Rambles in the Balearics.

The Guardian - Film

You might not immediately recall her in Neil LaBute's Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), until I mention her intimate love scene with Nastassja Kinski – the hottest work a cool actress has ever done.

The Guardian - Film

Often they don't detect anything is different about me until I mention how hard it is to maintain eye contact, that my tone of voice lowers when I become nervous, or I am overly gregarious when enthusiastic, among other things – then it becomes clear to them.

The Guardian - Opinion

They of course assume I have a serious alcohol problem, until I mention I would like to get that drink after work, not at 10 15 a.m.

Huffington Post

A number of respondents also commented upon the difficulties they had in meeting potential partners; "When it comes to a partner, everything is fine until I mention my illness, in which case they don't want to know".

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until I mentioned" to clearly indicate that a change in understanding or awareness occurred specifically because of your statement. This provides context and emphasizes the impact of your contribution to the conversation or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "until I mentioned" when the change was due to other external factors or coincidences. The phrase is most effective when your statement directly caused the shift.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until I mentioned" functions as a temporal conjunction, introducing a subordinate clause that specifies the time before a certain piece of information was revealed. This type of clause often provides context or explains a change in understanding. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's generally correct to use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until I mentioned" serves as a temporal conjunction, effectively emphasizing the speaker's influence in introducing a specific piece of information or perspective. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically sound and is readily usable in written English. Its prevalence across news and media sources, as well as less frequent use in science and formal business, highlights its versatility. When employing this phrase, writers should make sure that a change in understanding indeed follows their statement, as misattribution is a common pitfall. Alternative phrasing like "before I brought it up" offer subtle variations for diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before I brought it up

Focuses on the act of initiating the topic.

prior to my mentioning it

Formal alternative emphasizing the timing before the statement.

it wasn't until I said

Highlights the lateness of the realization.

not until I pointed out

Emphasizes the act of drawing attention to something.

it only became apparent when I noted

Formal and emphasizes the gradual revealing of information.

the situation changed after I remarked

Highlights a change in situation after a statement.

things were different once I stated

Emphasizes a before-and-after shift due to a statement.

following my comment

Briefly notes a sequence of events.

after I had revealed

Suggests disclosing previously unknown information.

once I had disclosed

Focuses on revealing sensitive or private information.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "until I mentioned"?

You can use alternatives like "before I brought it up", "prior to my mentioning it", or "it wasn't until I said" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How to use "until I mentioned" in a sentence?

Use "until I mentioned" to show that a certain point or understanding was not present or considered until you specifically brought it up. For example, "The team didn't realize the budget was insufficient until I mentioned the rising material costs."

Is it correct to say "up until I mentioned" instead of "until I mentioned"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "up until I mentioned" is less concise and generally less preferred in formal writing. "Until I mentioned" is more direct and clearly indicates the turning point.

What's the difference between "until I mentioned" and "before I mentioned"?

"Until I mentioned" emphasizes a change in status or awareness triggered by your statement. "Before I mentioned" simply indicates a point in time preceding your statement, without necessarily implying a direct causal relationship. See also: "before I brought it up"