Is it "until" or "untill"?

It's "until" with one L, not "untill" with two Ls. The correct spelling is always "until" with a single L. While "till" (the synonym) has two Ls, "until" only has one. The common error "untill" comes from assuming it's un + till, but the etymology is actually und + till, which merged to form "until" with one L.

Why is until spelled with one L not two?

Until is spelled with one L because it is a compound of two older words: und (meaning up to) and till, which merged in Middle English to form until with a single L. Even though "till" by itself has two Ls, when it becomes part of "until," only one L remains. This is similar to how "already" (from "all ready") loses one L. The spelling trick "Until you're done, use one L" reminds you that "until" has just one L.

Why do people add an extra L to until?

Many people assume that until is simply un + till, so they logically write untill with two Ls. This makes sense because "till" is a perfectly valid word on its own (and a synonym for "until"). However, the etymology is more complex. "Until" comes from "und" + "till," not "un" + "till." Over time, the double L was simplified to a single L in standard spelling. The confusion is compounded by the fact that other "un-" words keep double letters (like "unnecessary" or "unnatural"), so it's natural to think "untill" should too.

What's the trick to remember until spelling?

Use the spelling trick "Until you're done, use one L" - this creates a simple rule that's easy to remember. Other memory tricks include: "One word, one L": "Until" is a single word, so it gets a single L Compare to "already": Just like "all ready" becomes "already," "und till" becomes "until" Visual trick: Picture the word "until" with one tall L standing alone at the end

What are common misspellings of until?

The most common misspelling is "untill" with two Ls, based on the assumption that it's un + till. Other less frequent errors include "untl" (missing I), "intil" (wrong first letter), and "untel" (wrong vowel). The double-L error accounts for the majority because "till" by itself has two Ls, leading people to logically write "untill" - but this is always incorrect.

Is till or til correct?

Both till and until are correct and interchangeable, but 'til (with an apostrophe) is considered informal and often marked incorrect in formal writing. "till": A standalone word that's been in English since Old English times (not a shortened form of "until") "until": A compound that emerged later, combining "und" and "till" "'til": A modern informal spelling that suggests it's a contraction of "until," which is historically incorrect In formal writing, stick with "until" or "till" (no apostrophe). "Till" is not slang - it's a legitimate word with a long history.

Until or Untill?
Which Spelling is Correct?

Many people misspell "until" as "untill" by adding an extra L. Learn the correct spelling with a clever mnemonic that explains exactly why there's only one L.

until

Common Misspellings:

untill

The Perfect Mnemonic

This playful story helps you remember that "until" has one less L than "till":

Mnemonic for spelling until: You put money in the TILL, unTIL the robber steals an L

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How the Spelling Trick Works

The phrase "You put money in the TILL, unTIL the robber steals an L" is cleverly designed because:

It creates a memorable mini-story about a robbery that you can easily picture
It shows both words: "TILL" (two Ls) and "unTIL" (one L)
The robbery explains the difference: The robber "steals" one L, leaving "until" with only one
It's playful and memorable: The unusual scenario makes it stick in your memory

Whenever you're tempted to write "untill" with two Ls, remember the robber stealing one L from the cash register. That visual reminder will guide you to the correct spelling every time.

Why This Spelling Trick Works So Well

This spelling trick is particularly effective because it addresses the logical confusion head-on:

Explains the Relationship

By showing both "till" and "until" in the same phrase, the spelling trick clarifies how these related words differ in spelling. You see that "till" has two Ls while "until" has only one.

Creates a Visual Story

The robbery scenario is vivid and easy to picture. Your brain naturally stores visual stories more effectively than abstract spelling rules, making this spelling trick highly memorable.

Uses Action to Remember

The act of "stealing an L" is an active, dynamic image. This action-based memory is stronger than passive recall of spelling patterns.

Addresses the Confusion

Most people write "untill" because they think it's "un" + "till." This spelling trick acknowledges that logic, then explains why "until" actually loses one L through the robbery metaphor.

Practice Makes Perfect

Want to master "until" and hundreds of other commonly misspelled words? Try our interactive spelling practice app with adaptive learning and instant feedback.

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Word Origin

The word "until" comes from Old Norse "und" (as far as) combined with "til" (to). Unlike "till" which has double L, "until" uses only one L at the end. This is the standard modern spelling.

Etymology Path:

Old Norse und → Middle English until → Modern English until

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about spelling "until" correctly

Until or Untill?Which Spelling is Correct?

The Perfect Mnemonic

How the Spelling Trick Works

Why This Spelling Trick Works So Well

Explains the Relationship

Creates a Visual Story

Uses Action to Remember

Addresses the Confusion

Practice Makes Perfect

Word Origin

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it "until" or "untill"?

Why is until spelled with one L not two?

Why do people add an extra L to until?

What's the trick to remember until spelling?

What are common misspellings of until?

Is till or til correct?

Until or Untill?
Which Spelling is Correct?