As an American teaching in England, this is one of the most common errors I correct in my students' work, since the 'till' is the place where you pay here in a shop. So it's a common word, and they cannot get it through their thick little heads that it's either 'until' or ''til' that they want to use . . . not 'till.' Grr. And these people think they're the masters of the language?? Ha!
The second most common errors are aswell and atall -- they don't get that 'as well' and 'at all' are separate words. Hmmm.
And what they tell me is that the word started out till, then became untill (double 'l'), and finally became until (one 'l') . . . So, since 'til is a shortened form of until (with one 'l'), I'm voting that shortening the word would require one 'l' as well (unless we want to write in Middle English -- 'untill' came into use in about 1500, and clearly, the sign was not written in iddle English).
And at or around midnight, everyone in the bar will go out and plow the fields. Or something like that.
ReplyDeleteWhat's a "till midnight"? Suppose they meant "until" or even "'til"?
ReplyDeleteThe "till" in "till midnight" is, of course, the register, right?
ReplyDeleteAround midnight all the Chevy and Dodge pickup trucks turn into pumpkins?
ReplyDeleteThat's right after "last call" yes?
ReplyDelete....or at least that's what we tell the cops.
ReplyDeleteTill is the correct spelling Gilahi, and predates until.
ReplyDelete'til is a strange invention.
As an American teaching in England, this is one of the most common errors I correct in my students' work, since the 'till' is the place where you pay here in a shop. So it's a common word, and they cannot get it through their thick little heads that it's either 'until' or ''til' that they want to use . . . not 'till.' Grr. And these people think they're the masters of the language?? Ha!
ReplyDeleteThe second most common errors are aswell and atall -- they don't get that 'as well' and 'at all' are separate words. Hmmm.
Is there a song called "Till Midnight" sounds familiar, perhaps the bar is named for the song, or they play it a lot in there.. or maybe not.
ReplyDeleteMe, as I already said, you're wrong:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/till
till
Conjunction
till
1. Up to the time that (something is true).
2. Before (something is true).
[edit] Synonyms
* 'til (nonstandard), until
"Thick little heads" is a bit unfortunate, considering that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till_Death_Us_Do_Part
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_dusk_till_dawn
I cannot accept as an autority any reference prefixed with WIKI-
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Greg. LOL. So I'm going to the OED.
ReplyDeleteAnd what they tell me is that the word started out till, then became untill (double 'l'), and finally became until (one 'l') . . . So, since 'til is a shortened form of until (with one 'l'), I'm voting that shortening the word would require one 'l' as well (unless we want to write in Middle English -- 'untill' came into use in about 1500, and clearly, the sign was not written in iddle English).
But the question is whether 'till' is a valid word or not. It is, and there is no disputing it.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to debate what it should become, fine, but that's a different issue.
Bar open "till midnight"=
ReplyDeleteMidnight is the legally mandated closing time, but we stay open as long as possible...
I like this blog....
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post....
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