until very late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'until very late' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could write: "I stayed up working on my paper until very late."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We talked until very late.

The New York Times

That won't happen for the Packers until very late.

The New York Times

We have no clue until very late in the film.

The New York Times

They left digital investment until very late in the day.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was lecturing and broadcasting until very late on.

The Guardian - Opinion

He left his house early in the morning and didn't return until very late.

The New Yorker

We drank a lot, with a lot of very drunk comedians, until very late.

The New Yorker

Obama really didn't make that case at all until very late in the day.

The New Yorker

When you are a cabby, often there is no time to eat until very late.

The New York Times

"The banks did not get how serious it was until very late.

The Guardian - Business

It lacked a big idea until, very late in the day, with Mackenzie's appointment.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing work or activities, use "until very late" to clearly indicate dedication or prolonged effort, such as "I worked on the project until very late to meet the deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "late" without "very" when a stronger emphasis on the lateness of the hour is needed. Saying "until late" may not fully convey the extended duration intended, leading to potential misunderstanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until very late" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify the duration or endpoint of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use as a temporal marker.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "until very late" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating that an activity extended to a significantly late hour. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage, and its prevalence in news, scientific, and business contexts suggests its versatility. When employing this phrase, ensure it clearly conveys the intended emphasis on the extended duration, distinguishing it from the less emphatic "until late". The alternative phrases like "until the wee hours" or "until long after midnight" may provide a more vivid description depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until the wee hours

Replaces 'very late' with a more informal, time-specific idiom, implying activity continued into the early morning.

until long after midnight

Specifies a time frame, highlighting the lateness of the hour activities continued until.

until well into the night

Emphasizes the duration into the night, suggesting a significant portion of the night was spent.

until past closing time

Implies an activity continued beyond the normal or expected ending time.

until a late hour

Uses a more general term 'hour' to indicate the unspecified lateness of the time.

until the late hours

Similar to 'until a late hour' but emphasizes a period of late hours.

up to the late night

Shifts the focus to being active 'up to' a certain period, indicating prolonged activity.

until the end of the night

Suggests a completion or culmination point, indicating the activity continued until the night's conclusion.

until deep in the night

Emphasizes the depth into the night, suggesting a significant period of time.

until a very advanced hour

More formal than "until very late", it stresses the lateness using 'advanced'.

FAQs

How can I use "until very late" in a sentence?

You can use "until very late" to describe when an activity ended, such as, "We stayed up "until very late" discussing the project."

What phrases are similar to "until very late"?

Similar phrases include "until the wee hours", "until long after midnight", or "until well into the night", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "until late" or "until very late"?

While both are acceptable, "until very late" emphasizes a greater extent of time, making it more suitable when you want to highlight the prolonged duration. "Until late" might imply a less significant extension of time.

Can "until very late" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "until very late" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. However, for highly formal contexts, you may consider alternatives like "until a very advanced hour" for added formality.