until yesterday

USAGE SUMMARY

"until yesterday" can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are talking about something that happened up until the day before it is being spoken about. For example: "I hadn't seen my friend in years until yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

UNTIL yesterday I had watched all the Republican debates live.

The Economist

(Michael Bloomberg was one example until yesterday).

The New Yorker

No one read the policy until yesterday?

The New York Times

Until yesterday, obviously.

The Guardian - Sport

That booth lasted until yesterday.

The New York Times

"I thought it was Mick McCarthy until yesterday.

Independent

The Home Secretary, Teresa May, was on vacation, until yesterday.

The New Yorker

"It stood the test of time until yesterday".

The New York Times

But at least until yesterday, it was approximately circular.

Independent

Until yesterday, 17 officers were assigned there.

The New York Times

Well, we did, up until yesterday.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until yesterday" to clearly indicate a cutoff point in time, specifically the day before the current day. This provides a precise temporal reference for events or conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "until yesterday" when you actually mean "until today". "Until yesterday" refers to the period leading up to the day before, while "until today" includes the current day. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the timeframe you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until yesterday" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying a duration that extends up to the day preceding the current day. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until yesterday" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase of time used to indicate a period that extends up to, but does not include, the current day. As highlighted by Ludwig AI and its extensive examples, it's most frequently used in news and media to provide a precise temporal reference. The phrase's neutral register makes it appropriate for a wide range of writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects your intended timeframe to avoid confusion with similar expressions like "until today".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the day before today

A simpler, more direct way of saying "until yesterday".

up to the day before

Replaces "until yesterday" with a more descriptive, but less concise, phrasing.

until the previous day

Similar to "prior to yesterday", but slightly less formal.

prior to yesterday

Uses more formal language to express the same timeframe.

up until the last day

A more emphatic way of indicating the day before.

as recently as the previous day

Emphasizes the recency of the timeframe.

leading up to yesterday

Focuses on the period before yesterday, rather than the specific end point.

before today

Simplifies the timeframe, focusing on any point before the present day.

until then

Refers to a past time, with context assumed to be until yesterday.

in days past

Replaces "until yesterday" with a more archaic phrasing.

FAQs

How do I use "until yesterday" in a sentence?

"Until yesterday" is used to specify a time frame that extends up to, but does not include, the current day. For example, "I worked on the project until yesterday", meaning you stopped working on it the day before today.

What are some alternatives to "until yesterday"?

You can use alternatives like "prior to yesterday", "up to the day before", or "the day before today" depending on the context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "until yesterday"?

It would be incorrect if you mean to include the present day in your timeframe. In that case, you should use "until today" instead. For example, if you are still working on a project today, you shouldn't say you worked on it "until yesterday".

What's the difference between "until yesterday" and "before yesterday"?

"Until yesterday" implies a continuous period leading up to the day before today, while "before yesterday" simply means at some point prior to yesterday. "Until yesterday" focuses on a duration, and "before yesterday" on a point in time.