up until then

USAGE SUMMARY

"up until then" is correct usage in written English.
You can use it when referring to a period of time that has now ended, or something that happened or was true up until a certain point, but is no longer valid or true afterwards. For example: "The performance had been going well up until then, but the actor suddenly forgot his lines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Up until then, it was very tense".

The Guardian - Sport

"Up until then it was illegal..

The Guardian

Up until then I had no idea.

The Guardian - Film

But up until then we were still going with it".

BBC

Up until then I thought we would win".

Independent

Up until then, Ed had enjoyed huge success.

The New York Times

Up until then it had been psychopathic attacks on individuals.

The New York Times

Up until then, I had done this without much complaint.

The New Yorker

Up until then I thought I'd lost it.

The Guardian - Music

Up until then, her life had been remarkably parochial.

The New York Times

Up until then, I had answered every question, however lamely.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up until then" to clearly establish a before-and-after scenario, making it easier for your audience to understand a change or transition in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "up until then" interchangeably with phrases like "since then" or "after that". "Up until then" refers to the period before a specific point, while the others refer to the period after.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up until then" functions as a temporal marker, specifying a period leading to a particular point in time. Ludwig examples show its use in establishing a context before a shift or change occurred. The usage is deemed correct by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up until then" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to denote a period leading up to a specific point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, this phrase serves to provide background or contextual information, highlighting the state of affairs before a change or event. While alternatives like "until that time" or "before that" exist, "up until then" adds a nuanced emphasis on the duration leading to that moment. Use this phrase to clearly delineate before-and-after scenarios in your writing. Be mindful not to confuse it with phrases that describe the period following the event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until that time

Replaces "up until" with "until", focusing solely on the time aspect.

up to that point

Similar to the original, but uses "point" instead of "then" for emphasis.

prior to that moment

Emphasizes a specific point in time before a particular event.

before that

A shorter and more concise way of indicating a preceding period.

previously

Uses a single adverb to convey the idea of something happening earlier.

beforehand

A simple adverb indicating something done or existing earlier.

earlier on

Suggests something happened at an earlier stage in a process or timeline.

in the past

General reference to a time before the present.

until now

Indicates that something has been true until the present moment.

heretofore

A formal term for 'before now' or 'until this point'.

FAQs

How can I use "up until then" in a sentence?

Use "up until then" to indicate a state or condition that existed before a specific event or point in time. For example, "Up until then, I had no idea how much work it would involve."

What are some alternatives to using "up until then"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "until that time", "prior to that moment", or "before that".

Is it more formal to say "up until then" or "until then"?

"Until then" is slightly more concise and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. "Up until then" adds a bit more emphasis on the period leading up to the specified time.

Can "up until then" be used to describe future events?

No, "up until then" is used to describe past events or states that existed before a certain point. For future events, you would use phrases like "until then" or "by that time".