difference!-?????????
till vs untill
I'd say 'till' or 'til' is slightly less formal than 'until', since it's a contraction, but I can't think of a (realistic) situation where it would be inappropriate to use one or the other (official government documents, maybe?) Anyway, they mean the same thing, one is just a short version of the other.
In general spoken usage here, one normally uses "till" unless one is trying to convey specific emphasis or formality, where then one may use "until". On the other hand, in formal written usage one normally uses "until" rather than "till" in English in general.
I also have to concur that "till" is not a contraction of "until", but rather "until" is due to joining "un" (a preposition which is no longer used by itself) with "till". Another note is that the word is "till", not "til", even though one may see "til" or "'til" used at times based on the erroneous notion that it is a contraction of "until".
I also have to concur that "till" is not a contraction of "until", but rather "until" is due to joining "un" (a preposition which is no longer used by itself) with "till". Another note is that the word is "till", not "til", even though one may see "til" or "'til" used at times based on the erroneous notion that it is a contraction of "until".
By the way, "until" is always spelled with one "L", but "till" is usually spelled with two. (One also sees "'til", with one "L" and an apostrophe, but I think "till" is usually preferred.) I have no idea why that is...
<<By the way, "until" is always spelled with one "L", but "till" is usually spelled with two. (One also sees "'til", with one "L" and an apostrophe, but I think "till" is usually preferred.) I have no idea why that is...>>
I think it's part of a consistent spelling pattern (still mostly retained in British English) that gave us monosyllabic "stall, fill, pall, still" but bisyllabic "instal, fulfil, appal, distil".
I think it's part of a consistent spelling pattern (still mostly retained in British English) that gave us monosyllabic "stall, fill, pall, still" but bisyllabic "instal, fulfil, appal, distil".
"instal, fulfil, appal, distil".
I spell INSTALL FULFILL APPALL DISTILL
"instal, fulfil, appal, distil" is wrong according to my spell checker
I spell INSTALL FULFILL APPALL DISTILL
"instal, fulfil, appal, distil" is wrong according to my spell checker
<<"instal, fulfil, appal, distil" is wrong according to my spell checker>>
That's because your spell checker is American. ;-) For British English, the Cambridge Online Dictionary lists "fulfil, appal, distil" as the only spelling, and "instal" as an optional variant.
Anyway, one instance of that spelling pattern which is preserved in American English is "null-annul".
That's because your spell checker is American. ;-) For British English, the Cambridge Online Dictionary lists "fulfil, appal, distil" as the only spelling, and "instal" as an optional variant.
Anyway, one instance of that spelling pattern which is preserved in American English is "null-annul".
So 'install', 'fulfill', etc. are American spellings? I never knew that. Those are the ones I use.
"On the other hand, in formal written usage one normally uses "until" rather than "till" in English in general."
I saw it used as "till" in 19 century British Literature.
I saw it used as "till" in 19 century British Literature.