until I received

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until I received" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a timeline in which something happened before the receipt of something else. For example: "I had been waiting for weeks until I received the package."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Could I really wait another week until I received my second quarter?

University of California, Berkeley

Until I received a different message, at 17, from my English literature teacher, Mr Pearman.

The Guardian - Opinion

Until I received that e-mail, it had never occurred to me that yacht chartering was within my means.

The New Yorker

I chuckled, thinking myself innocent of the charge, until I received my paper with a furiously circled "ferocious" in it.

The New York Times - Books

"Paying on my debit card meant I didn't realise how much I was spending, until I received a statement.

The Guardian

Until I received the assignment to review Everett True's "Nirvana," I hadn't listened to the band much in recent years.

The New York Times - Books

This was the last I heard until I received a county court proceedings letter citing a "bounced cheque".

The Guardian - Money

"It wasn't until I received any monies from this lawsuit, then all of a sudden, it's alleged crimes and stuff going on," he said.

The New York Times

For myself, I would not rest until I received a written apology and a large check to the animal charity of my choice.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

To save time, I tried to leave the same comment over and over again the waving hand emoji, my go-to conversation starter until I received a notice with the heading "Duplicate Comment".

Vice

He could not summon up the courage and meant to wait until I received 'Aryan' papers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until I received" to clearly establish a temporal boundary, indicating that a certain condition or action persisted up to the point of receiving something. For example, "I didn't understand the problem until I received the detailed explanation."

Common error

Avoid using the past perfect tense when the context requires a simple past tense. For instance, instead of saying "Until I had received the package, I was worried," use "Until I received the package, I was worried."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until I received" functions as a temporal clause, introducing a condition that lasts up to a specific point in time when the speaker received something. This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples, showing how it sets a temporal boundary.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until I received" is a common and grammatically correct temporal clause used to indicate that a condition or action persisted up to the moment something was received. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, especially in News & Media and Academia. When writing with this expression, ensure that the tense of the clause following it is appropriate for the timeline you're establishing. Ludwig's examples provide excellent illustrations of how to effectively integrate this phrase into your writing, enhancing clarity and temporal precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only after obtaining

Highlights the sequence of obtaining something before a subsequent action.

not until I had

Emphasizes the completion of the act of receiving before something else could occur.

not before getting

Emphasizes the condition of receiving something as a prerequisite.

up until getting

Indicates a continuous state that lasts until the point of receiving something.

before I was given

Focuses on the act of being given something, rather than the act of receiving.

prior to my receipt of

A more formal way to indicate something happening before receiving something.

until such time as I got

A more archaic and formal way of expressing the same idea.

leading up to receiving

Emphasizes the period of time before the act of receiving.

pending receipt of

Indicates that something is waiting or contingent upon receiving something else.

in anticipation of receiving

Focuses on the expectation of receiving something.

FAQs

How can I use "until I received" in a sentence?

The phrase "until I received" is used to indicate that something occurred or was true up to the point when you received something. For example: "I didn't know the truth "until I received" the letter".

What are some alternatives to "until I received"?

You can use alternatives such as "not before getting", "only after obtaining", or "prior to my receipt of" to convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to express.

Is there a difference between "until I received" and "after I received"?

"Until I received" indicates the time leading up to the receipt, while "after I received" focuses on the time following the receipt. The first emphasizes a prior state, and the second emphasizes a subsequent state.

What tense should I use after "until I received"?

Typically, you would use the simple past tense after ""until I received"" to describe what happened after that point. For example, "Until I received the instructions, I was lost."