up until that day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "up until that day" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a specific point in time leading up to a particular event or moment. Example: "Up until that day, I had never considered the possibility of moving to another country."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The graph shows a breakdown of steps by day, week and month, while the text informs the participant about their average step count for the week and how many days his or her goal has been met up until that day.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

"Up until that day, I thought all Cubans were the same," he says.

The New York Times

"Up until that day, I had never been able to watch the service on the telly.

The Guardian

"Up until that day, everybody had respected that, and then that one journalist had decided no, it was a story," she said.

BBC

I had never really been an Arab in school up until that day.

HuffPost

All of my movies, up until that day, had been comedies.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The emotional turmoil and quiet confusion starts several weeks before the holiday and culminates in a litany of rationalizations right up until that dire Sunday.

Huffington Post

"Up until the day that she started using that arm, she was kind of lifeless.

Los Angeles Times

That is, these counts represent suicide deaths occurring during the period covered by a prescribed supply of medication (without any co-prescription of the other medication), or during the gap(s) permitted after the prescription had ended, up until the day that the first gap of 15 or more days had occurred.

BMC Psychiatry

Lizza, who recently profiled Ryan in the magazine, says that, against the advice of many Republicans, Romney was running a safe campaign "right up until the day that he picked Paul Ryan".

The New Yorker

I worked up until the day that Oscar was born; I had a conference call that morning.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up until that day" to clearly demarcate a period ending on a specific date, emphasizing a change or transition that occurred on that day.

Common error

Avoid using "up until that day" when you actually mean "including that day". The phrase implies the period ends before that day, not on it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up until that day" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the duration of an action or state leading up to a particular point in time. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates a specific point in time leading up to a particular event or moment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up until that day" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase that serves to define a temporal boundary. Ludwig AI highlights its role in indicating a specific point in time before an event. While not exceedingly common, it's appropriate for diverse contexts, especially in news, media, and scientific writing. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "until that day" or "prior to that day". Remember to use "up until that day" when you want to clearly specify a timeframe ending right before a specific day and not including it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until that day

Slightly shorter, omitting "up" but retaining the core meaning.

prior to that day

Uses a more formal register and emphasizes the time preceding the specified day.

before that day

Simpler and more direct, focusing on the temporal sequence.

leading up to that day

Highlights the period of time immediately preceding the day in question.

until then

More concise and relies on the context to establish the specific day.

previous to that day

A more formal synonym for "before that day".

up to and including that day

Emphasizes that the specified day is included in the timeframe.

until the arrival of that day

More literary and dramatic, stressing the anticipation of the day.

in the days before that

Focuses on the period of several days before the specific date.

in anticipation of that day

Highlights the expectation and preparation leading up to the day.

FAQs

How can I use "up until that day" in a sentence?

Use "up until that day" to specify a time frame that concludes right before a particular day. For instance, "Up until that day, I had never considered moving abroad" indicates that the consideration began precisely on that day.

What's the difference between "up until that day" and "until that day"?

The phrase "up until that day" and "until that day" are nearly synonymous, but "up until that day" might subtly emphasize the progression leading to that point. The difference is very slight.

What are some alternatives to "up until that day"?

Alternatives include "prior to that day", "before that day", or "leading up to that day", which offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

Is it correct to say "up until that day"?

Yes, "up until that day" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate a period of time concluding just before a specific date or event.