until this evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until this evening" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means until some point in the evening, usually before bedtime. For example, you could say, "I will finish my work until this evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Until this evening Fine Gael parliamentarians and even the taoiseach alongside his foreign minister, Simon Coveney, have insisted that Fitzgerald will not be forced out of office.

The Guardian

"I have to do what I think is best for my state," Edwards said, as supporters cried out "No! No! We love you!" "I never considered this decision until this evening.

The Washington Post

He had not seen her again until this evening.

The New Yorker

They have until this evening to take a decision.

Independent

Until this evening she had been fine, he insisted.

The New York Times - Magazine

The technical delays mean that any result will not start to become clear until this evening.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Explosions and sporadic gunfire continued to sound until early evening.

The New York Times

He got up at 6 and worked until late evening.

The New York Times - Style

My flight to Buenos Aires wasn't until early evening.

The New Yorker

Recently I had a day of not being at home until early evening.

The New York Times

Until last night, sculptures brought strong prices this season.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until this evening", be sure the context makes it clear which evening you are referring to if there is potential for confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "until this evening" when you actually mean "tonight" or "this late at night". "Until this evening" implies a broader period encompassing the earlier part of the evening, whereas "tonight" often refers to the later hours.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until this evening" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action or state is valid, available, or in effect. Ludwig AI confirms its standard grammatical correctness and shows that it is widely employed to define time constraints.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "until this evening" serves as a clear and versatile way to define a timeframe that extends up to a certain point in the present evening. Grammatically sound and widely accepted, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its use spans diverse contexts, with a prominent presence in news and media outlets. While seemingly straightforward, subtle nuances differentiate it from similar expressions like "tonight". Therefore, proper usage is recommended when used to specify the timing of events. For near-synonyms you can also try "before the end of the evening" or "up to this evening" to achieve the very same effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to this evening

Replaces "until" with "up to", maintaining the same temporal boundary.

till tonight

A more casual and shortened version of the original phrase.

before the end of the evening

Changes the structure to emphasize the completion of something before the evening concludes.

throughout the remainder of the evening

Focuses on the duration of the evening still to come.

leading up to tonight

Highlights the period leading to the current evening, rather than the endpoint itself.

in the time leading up to tonight

Similar to 'leading up to tonight' but more verbose.

in the approaching evening hours

Highlights the imminence of the evening.

before nightfall

Emphasizes the coming of night as the deadline.

before the close of business today

A more formal way to indicate a deadline occurring in the evening.

during the remaining hours of daylight

Specifies the timeframe more literally, focusing on daylight hours.

FAQs

How can I use "until this evening" in a sentence?

You can use "until this evening" to indicate a deadline or a state that exists up to a certain point in the evening. For example, "The offer is valid "until this evening"" or "I'll be available "until this evening" for consultations."

What's the difference between "until this evening" and "tonight"?

"Until this evening" generally refers to the period leading up to and including the early part of the evening, while "tonight" focuses more on the later part of the evening or night. Therefore, you would not use "tonight" to mean until 6 PM, but "until this evening" would work.

Can I use "until this evening" in formal writing?

Yes, "until this evening" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. It provides a clear and professional way to indicate a timeframe.

What are some alternative phrases to "until this evening"?

Some alternatives include "up to this evening", "before the end of the evening", or "till tonight", depending on the context and desired level of formality.