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Help! Did someone change the rule about using "till" in place of "until," or have I always been wrong?
I am a proofreader and editor in my spare time, and I acquired the job not because I have an English degree, but because I have always been pretty good at it. The downside of just being good at it is that, while I know the rules, I don't always remember what a given rule is called, nor how to explain it back to someone else.
I am in the middle of editing a paper that is to be submitted to a professional journal. The author has used the word "till" to mean "until" numerous times, and I have always thought of that to be incorrect. A till is a noun meaning a place to store your cash, or a verb meaning to cultivate the earth. There is the colloquialism 'til, but it is not formal English. I have to take a stand here (it's due in 10 hours) and say that the use of "till" in this case is also informal, and therefore inappropriate for a journal article.
Am I completely in outer space about this word usage? Have I lost my mind?
I am in the middle of editing a paper that is to be submitted to a professional journal. The author has used the word "till" to mean "until" numerous times, and I have always thought of that to be incorrect. A till is a noun meaning a place to store your cash, or a verb meaning to cultivate the earth. There is the colloquialism 'til, but it is not formal English. I have to take a stand here (it's due in 10 hours) and say that the use of "till" in this case is also informal, and therefore inappropriate for a journal article.
Am I completely in outer space about this word usage? Have I lost my mind?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Samantha Anne Scott on -
'Til definitely ain't proper English.
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Permalink Reply by ayax on -
Interesting... I never really thought about it.
'Till was definitely 'mod' in the sixties, overseas.
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Permalink Reply by GuitarDiva on
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Until it still the correct use, but people have stopped caring about what's correct and they'll probably argue with you about it.
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Permalink Reply by sophie on -
I'd change it and explain about professional vs. personal language styles.
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Permalink Reply by Julie D'Arcy on -
I decided to change it globally to "until" and explain to the author that, since it was going to a professional journal, it should be written in formal English. My boss actually found an interesting discussion about it on a English language blog, but I have lost the link. It seems that "till" is really the oldest word, and whether you think it should be replaced with "until" is a matter of personal preference. I told my client that I changed it because probably the reviewers would view it as improper as well.
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Permalink Reply by Robyn on -
I am a newspaper copy editor, and according to the AP, "till" is acceptable -- no apostrophe and two "L's." But you aren't dealing with newspaper work, so I can't say for sure.
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Permalink Reply by Blakeington on -
Definate? C'mon, people, please!
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