was in force until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was in force until" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that a rule, law, or agreement was valid up to a certain point in time. Example: The regulation was in force until the end of the year. Alternative expressions include "was effective until" and "remained valid until."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

That law was in force until 2003, and it also had a restriction which required complainants to come forward within 12 months.

The Guardian

The act, which was in force until 2003, stated that it was a felony to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.

The Guardian

In fact, "Dao" could not have qualified before last year, since a strict size restriction (3 meters, or about 10 feet, by 3 meters by 3 meters) was in force until then.

The New York Times - Arts

But when they went to an AT&T store to buy it, the salesman told Mr. Stuhm that his current contract was in force until next year and that he would have to pay $200 more than the advertised price of $199 to get the phone.

The New York Times - Tech

One was imposed in the early 1930's, he said, for reasons that are no longer clear, and was in force until 1994, when transit officials decided to relax it after embarrassing news reports that a woman had been given a summons for taking a picture on a subway in the Bronx.

The New York Times

Asked whether Murphy-O'Connor was aware of the Vatican edict, he replied: 'He's never mentioned it to me.' Lawyers point to a letter the Vatican sent to bishops in May 2001 clearly stating the 1962 instruction was in force until then.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The contract will not be in force until the complaint is formally resolved.

The New York Times

"These sanctions are in force until another decision is adopted by the Arab foreign ministers," he said.

The New York Times

The agency said the suspension would be in force "until the company can provide sufficient evidence to E.P.A. that it meets federal business standards".

The New York Times

These provincial laws were first written down in the first half of the thirteenth century and were in force until 1683, when they were replaced by a national law.

Stanford University

Pending the application for an interlocutory injunction, a single judge may grant a restraining order to be in force until the hearing of the application, but thereafter, so far as enjoining the state officers, his power is exhausted.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was in force until", ensure the context clearly defines what specific rule, law, or agreement you are referring to for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "is in force until" when referring to a past period. Use "was in force until" to indicate the period of validity has already ended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was in force until" functions as a temporal marker, indicating the period during which a specific rule, law, or agreement was valid and operative. It specifies the end date or time of its validity. This is reflected in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was in force until" effectively communicates the period during which a rule, law, or agreement was valid, specifying its expiration. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly appears in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When writing, ensure that you use it when referring to something that has ended, but was effective up until a certain point. Alternatives such as "remained valid until" or "was effective until" can be used for variety, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in effect until

Similar to the original but uses "effect" instead of "force"; interchangeable in many contexts.

remained valid until

Emphasizes the continued validity of something up to a certain point; highlights ongoing validity.

was effective until

Focuses on the period during which something had an effect or produced a result; highlights effectiveness.

was applicable until

Focuses on the relevance or suitability of something; emphasizes applicability.

operated until

Highlights the functioning or operation of something until a certain time; emphasizes activity.

lasted until

Indicates the duration of something; emphasizes how long something continued.

was maintained until

Highlights that something was kept in a particular state until a specific time; emphasizes preservation.

held sway until

Implies influence or dominance up to a certain time; emphasizes power or control.

extended until

Suggests a deliberate lengthening or continuation; emphasizes prolongation.

prevailed until

Implies widespread existence or acceptance up to a certain time; emphasizes commonality.

FAQs

What does "was in force until" mean?

The phrase "was in force until" indicates that a rule, law, or agreement was valid and operative up to a specific point in time. After that point, it was no longer valid.

How can I use "was in force until" in a sentence?

You can use it to specify the duration of a regulation. For example: "The parking restriction "was in force until" January 1st, 2024."

What are some alternatives to "was in force until"?

Alternatives include "remained valid until", "was effective until", or "operated until". Choose the alternative that best fits the context.

Is it correct to say "is in force until" instead of "was in force until"?

Using "is in force until" implies the rule or agreement is currently valid. Use "was in force until" when discussing a rule that has already expired.