until told otherwise

USAGE SUMMARY

"until told otherwise" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to express a state of uncertainty or expectation. For example, "We will continue with the original plan until told otherwise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

I assumed these begonias were made of white gold, until told otherwise.

The New York Times

He presumed himself the starter until told otherwise by Coach Mike McCarthy.

The New York Times - Sports

Treat anyone older than 50 with pronounced – if not semi-exaggerated – respect, until told otherwise.

The Guardian

Austin, speaking on the radio afterwards, said he would happily keep playing for QPR until told otherwise.

The Guardian - Sport

I am not sure this actually means anything but, until told otherwise, I will remain convinced agents talk like this all the time.

The Guardian - Sport

Pardew declined to speak to the press afterwards – a total of seven local and national newspapers have been banned by the club – but he told TV reporters he would continue to prepare the team until told otherwise by Mike Ashley, the owner, who attended the game, and he understood the fans' comments.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

A military spokesman, Col. Ahmed Ali, issued a statement on his official Facebook page saying that government officials had not received "any judicial rulings thus far, and are committed to enforcing the curfew during its set hours" until being told otherwise.

Los Angeles Times

"Until I'm told otherwise, yeah, I do," Curry said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Exercise planning will continue until we are told otherwise".

The Guardian

Bartenders served drinks and bathroom attendants offered towels, on duty until they were told otherwise.

The New Yorker

"I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear anything and keep preparing until I am told otherwise.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until told otherwise" when you want to emphasize that a current action or belief should continue unless specifically instructed to stop or change.

Common error

Avoid using "until told otherwise" in overly passive constructions. Reframe the sentence to highlight the actor who is doing the telling for clearer, more direct communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until told otherwise" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration of an action or state. It specifies that the action or state continues up to the point when someone communicates a change or instruction. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "until told otherwise" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression indicating a provisional state or action that continues unless specifically instructed to change. It functions as an adverbial phrase of time, and is often found in news and media sources. According to Ludwig AI, its usability is confirmed. While alternatives like "unless instructed differently" or "until further notice" exist, "until told otherwise" offers a general and widely applicable way to communicate temporary compliance or expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unless instructed differently

This alternative focuses on the act of instruction rather than simply being told.

until advised otherwise

Similar to "until told otherwise", but specifies that the information comes in the form of advice.

until notified of a change

Focuses on receiving notification when a change occurs.

until further notice

This implies a more formal or official duration, typically used in announcements.

pending new instructions

This highlights the anticipation of new directives.

absent any other direction

Emphasizes the lack of alternative guidance.

in the absence of contrary instructions

This is a more formal way of indicating that a default action continues without conflicting directions.

subject to change

Directly states that the current situation is liable to be altered.

as it stands

Indicates continuation under current circumstances.

for the time being

Implies a temporary state that might soon change.

FAQs

How can I use "until told otherwise" in a sentence?

You can use "until told otherwise" to indicate that a current state or action will continue unless someone provides different instructions. For example, "I will continue working on this project "until told otherwise"".

What are some alternatives to "until told otherwise"?

Alternatives to "until told otherwise" include "unless instructed differently", "until further notice", or "pending new instructions", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "until further notice" instead of "until told otherwise"?

While both phrases indicate continuation, "until further notice" is often used in more formal or official settings, whereas "until told otherwise" is more general.

What's the difference between "until advised otherwise" and "until told otherwise"?

Until advised otherwise suggests that the information comes in the form of advice or a recommendation, whereas "until told otherwise" simply implies any form of instruction or direction.