If you’re stuck between until and untill, the answer is clean: until is the standard spelling, and untill is treated as a misspelling. This mix-up happens fast because the words look similar, and our brains love patterns. Still, in edited English, it’s until with one l.
Quick Answer
✅ Correct
until One L Standard spelling
❌ Incorrect
untill Two Ls Common typo
You may also run into till and ’til. They connect to the same idea, but their formality and style can differ in real writing.
The Correct Spelling
The correct form is until (one l). In dictionaries and learner references, you’ll see until listed as the standard entry, with clear usage and examples. The variant untill isn’t treated as a separate word in standard spelling; it shows up as a typing or spelling slip. ✅Source
- ✅ Correct
- until — standard spelling used in everyday and formal writing.
- ❌ Incorrect
- untill — common misspelling, typically flagged in edited text.
Why Untill Shows Up
This error usually comes from pattern pressure. English has plenty of short words that end in -ill, and people also see till floating around, then mentally build un + till. That mental split feels natural, even though until is its own standard spelling. The result is a second l that looks “right” at a glance.
- Visual similarity: until looks close to till, so doubling the l feels consistent.
- Typing rhythm: adding an extra letter is a common fast-typing slip, especially with repeated consonants.
- Autocorrect noise: some keyboards learn frequent typos and can “suggest” them back later, which reinforces the habit.
Note Untill is not a different tense or a different meaning. It’s the same intended word, just with an extra l.
What Until Means
Until marks an endpoint. It points to the time (or sometimes a place) where something continues up to, then stops or changes. Grammar references commonly describe until as working both as a preposition and a conjunction, depending on what follows it. ✅Source
Until As A Preposition
It’s followed by a time or point: until midnight, until Friday, until the end. The focus is the limit of an action or state.
- ✅ “We stayed open until 9.”
- ✅ “Keep stirring until smooth.”
Until As A Conjunction
It’s followed by a clause (a mini sentence): until it stops, until you arrive. Here, until connects two ideas and sets a boundary in time.
- ✅ “We waited until the call ended.”
- ✅ “Don’t open it until you’re ready.”
Where Till and ’Til Fit In
Till is a real word, not a chopped-down version of until. Usage notes from major dictionaries even point out that till is historically older and functions as a legitimate synonym in many contexts, especially in speech and informal writing. It still means the same endpoint idea; the difference is mainly tone and register. ✅Source
Style ’Til is commonly described as an informal or poetic shortening of until. You may also see ’till, but many usage notes prefer ’til when the apostrophe form is used at all. ✅Source
Real-World Examples
These examples keep the focus on the spelling choice. Notice how until stays consistent whether it’s followed by a time, a moment, or a full clause.
✅ Correct Examples
- ✅ “I’ll be busy until Monday.”
- ✅ “Stay here until I come back.”
- ✅ “The store is open until 8 p.m.”
- ✅ “Wait until the light turns green.”
❌ Incorrect Examples
- ❌ “I’ll be busy untill Monday.”
- ❌ “Stay here untill I come back.”
- ❌ “The store is open untill 8 p.m.”
- ❌ “Wait untill the light turns green.”
Side-By-Side Comparison Table
This table keeps spelling, status, and tone in one place. It’s the quickest way to see why until is the safe standard, while untill is the spelling to avoid in edited text.
| Form | Status | Typical Role | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| until | ✅ Standard | Preposition or Conjunction | “We waited until noon.” | One L; most common in formal and neutral writing. |
| untill | ❌ Misspelling | Intended as until | “We waited untill noon.” | Two Ls; usually treated as a typo. |
| till | ✅ Standard | Preposition or Conjunction | “I’m here till Friday.” | Common in speech and informal tone; meaning matches until. |
| ’til | ✅ Informal | Shortened form | “I’ll wait ’til you’re ready.” | More casual; often seen in lyrics, quotes, or relaxed writing. |
| ’till | ✅ Variant | Shortened/variant form | “I’ll wait ’till you’re ready.” | Appears in real text, but many references prefer ’til when using an apostrophe form. |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “Untill” Ever Correct?
In standard English spelling, until is the correct form. untill is generally treated as a misspelling rather than a separate accepted word.
Does “Until” Only Refer To Time?
Mostly it’s about time, but it can also mark an endpoint in distance in some contexts (for example, “stay on the train until Manchester”). The key idea is the endpoint.
Is “Till” Wrong Compared To “Until”?
Till is not inherently wrong; it’s widely treated as a legitimate synonym in many contexts. It often reads more casual than until, so you’ll see until more in neutral or formal writing.
Which Apostrophe Form Is Common: ’Til Or ’Till?
Both appear, but ’til is often described as the more typical apostrophe form linked to until. Either way, these forms carry a more informal or stylistic vibe than plain until.
Is “Until” A Preposition Or A Conjunction?
It can be either. If it’s followed by a time point (“until noon”), it acts like a preposition. If it’s followed by a clause (“until it ends”), it works as a conjunction.