until this afternoon

USAGE SUMMARY

"until this afternoon" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing the idea that something will happen up until a certain time in the afternoon. For example: "I will be busy until this afternoon, so I can't get together until then."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

You've got until THIS AFTERNOON (23rd of July) to enter the competition to win a pair of tickets to an exclusive advanced screening taking place at a central London venue at 6.30PM on Tuesday, the 24th of July.

Vice

It's also true that the Slide teams did not learn about this bloodbath until this afternoon.

TechCrunch

This took place during the morning and continued until this afternoon.

The Guardian - Tech

This is a twisted group of athletes, but until this afternoon, none of them had ever performed five twists in the air during one jump at the Winter Games.

The New York Times - Sports

The good thing, from the perspective of the Yankees, was that they don't play again until this afternoon, giving them one full day to remember this crisp victory, and one more day to forget Friday's nightmare.

The New York Times - Sports

State until this afternoon".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Sunday, noon until late afternoon.

The New York Times

The meeting dragged on until late afternoon.

The New York Times

Neither had classes until late afternoon.

The New York Times

Some races do not begin until late afternoon.

The New York Times - Sports

Service probably won't resume until late afternoon tomorrow.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until this afternoon", ensure the context makes it clear that you are referring to the current day's afternoon to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "until this afternoon" if the context might imply you're referring to an afternoon on a future date. For clarity, specify the exact date or use "today" to reinforce that you mean the current day: "I'm unavailable until this afternoon, July 15th."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until this afternoon" functions as a prepositional phrase, specifically an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating the duration of an action or state, specifying that it continues up to a certain point in the afternoon.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until this afternoon" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that functions as an adverbial of time. According to Ludwig AI, it clearly expresses a temporal limit extending up to the afternoon of the current day. The phrase is versatile and appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, ensure that the context clarifies you're referring to the current day to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "up to this afternoon" or "by this afternoon" for variety. Overall, "until this afternoon" is a reliable way to set a clear deadline or time frame.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to this afternoon

Replaces "until" with "up to", maintaining the same temporal boundary but with a slightly different preposition.

till this afternoon

Uses a shortened form of "until", making it slightly more informal.

before the end of this afternoon

Emphasizes the deadline being the end of the afternoon rather than the entire duration.

no later than this afternoon

Highlights the latest possible time, shifting the focus to a deadline.

by this afternoon

Shorter and more direct, implying the action must be completed by the afternoon.

through this morning and into the afternoon

Breaks down the timeframe more explicitly, useful for clarifying the duration.

leading up to this afternoon

Focuses on the period before the afternoon, emphasizing the build-up to that time.

for the remainder of the morning until this afternoon

Specifies "morning" and connects it to the afternoon.

during the morning, concluding this afternoon

More descriptive, explicitly stating the period starts in the morning and finishes in the afternoon.

until sometime this afternoon

Adds an element of uncertainty about the exact time in the afternoon.

FAQs

What does "until this afternoon" mean?

The phrase "until this afternoon" means up to and including some point in the afternoon of the current day. It sets a time boundary, indicating that something is valid or ongoing up to that specific time.

How to use "until this afternoon" in a sentence?

You can use "until this afternoon" to specify a deadline, availability, or duration. For example, "The offer is valid "until this afternoon"" or "I will be in meetings "until this afternoon", so I won't be able to respond to emails."

What can I say instead of "until this afternoon"?

Alternatives to "until this afternoon" include "up to this afternoon", "by this afternoon", or "no later than this afternoon", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "until this afternoon"?

Yes, it is correct to say "until this afternoon". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, and it is common in various contexts. Just ensure the context makes it clear you are referring to the current day's afternoon.