by September

When someone said "This work should be completed by September", would that include September? Or would you think that should be done by the end of August? Sorry this may be a very basic question, but I'm a little confused.

I would say by the 1st September the work should be completed. It does not include September.

If someone said that to me, I'd try to have it completed by the end of August. It means the task is to be completed by the time September rolls around.

Sorry, Damian, I hadn't refreshed.

nae probs mjd! :-)