until his return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'until his return' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something will happen until a certain point in time (in this case, the return of someone). Example sentence: We will continue to make preparations until his return.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There he remained until his return.

The Guardian - Sport

He is motionless until his return.

The Guardian - Books

Financial performance suffered until his return in 2008.

Harvard Business Review

Members attending services pledged support and said they would stay until his return.

The New York Times

So he didn't meet his new sister-in-law until his return.

The New Yorker

In 1914 he moved to Switzerland, where he lived until his return to France in 1937.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Up until his return from the Beagle in 1836, Darwin considered himself an "orthodox" Christian.

The Guardian - Opinion

Most are worried about how the team will fare until his return.

The New York Times - Sports

He left the conference in the hands of Dr. Albright until his return tonight in time for dinner.

The New York Times

Meehan served as Pastor at various churches in Washington and Montana until his return to Gonzaga as Chaplain and Search Coordinator in University Ministry from 2001 to 2006.

University of California, Berkeley

Mr. Qadri is something of a mystery figure, little known in Pakistan until his return from Canada — he is a citizen of both countries — one month ago.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until his return", ensure the subject and context clearly indicate who is returning to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "until his return" if the context doesn't clearly define who 'his' refers to. This can cause confusion. Instead, use a more specific noun or pronoun to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until his return" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the duration of an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is used correctly and frequently.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until his return" is a versatile prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate a time frame leading up to someone's comeback. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across different contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clearly defines who "his" refers to, preventing any ambiguity. Alternatives like "until he comes back" or "pending his return" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until he comes back

Replaces "return" with the more common verb "comes back".

until he is back

Uses a simpler structure with "is back" instead of "return".

pending his return

Emphasizes the waiting period before the return.

awaiting his return

Highlights the act of waiting expectantly.

before he returns

Shifts the focus to the event happening before his return.

in anticipation of his return

Adds a sense of eagerness and expectation.

until his comeback

Uses "comeback" which is often used in sports and entertainment contexts.

till he gets back

Uses the informal "gets back" instead of "return".

up to his return

Highlights the period leading directly to the return.

until the time he returns

Adds more emphasis on the specific timing of his return.

FAQs

How can I use "until his return" in a sentence?

You can use "until his return" to indicate a period of time that lasts until someone comes back. For example, "The team will continue training until his return from injury".

What's a formal alternative to "until his return"?

A more formal alternative could be "pending his return" or "awaiting his return", which adds a slightly more elevated tone.

Is it ever incorrect to use "until his return"?

While grammatically correct, using "until his return" can be unclear if the context doesn't specify who "his" refers to. Ensure clarity by specifying the person or using a more descriptive phrase.

What can I say instead of "until his return"?

You can use alternatives like "until he comes back", "until he is back", or "before he returns" depending on the context.