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If, in a contract fr example, the text reads: "X has to finish the work by MM-DD-YYYY", does the "by" include the date or exclude it?

In other words, will the work delivered on the specified date violate the contract?

gphilip
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    You'll need to ask a lawyer. – Dan Bron Aug 28 '14 at 16:19
  • I'd imagine the common understanding of this word is what the lawyers use, so I'm just interested in what native speakers thing. – gphilip Aug 28 '14 at 16:22
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    To native speakers, there is no definitive interpretation. It could mean either "up to and including", or "strictly before". Which meaning it had in a specific context would depend upon the conventions governing that context, which can and do differ. If I wanted to be completely unambiguous, I would say something like "must be delivered before ...". On the other hand, sometimes the ambiguity is irrelevant, no matter which convention governed it, if a bottle of milk said "Best f used by August 10th", you couldn't get me to drink it on that date. TL;DR: it's ambiguous. – Dan Bron Aug 28 '14 at 16:32
  • Dan has said it all. "To native speakers, there is no definitive interpretation." It's that simple. – Fattie Aug 28 '14 at 16:37

1 Answers1

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As others have specified, the word by is generally synonymous with no later than when referring to a date or time.

However, it is important to note (and this is why I am adding another answer) that if all you know is "The work must be completed by MM-DD-YYYY", then the exact due date is still ambiguous.

Without additional information, 'due by MM-DD-YYYY' has a fair chance of meaning:

  • Due at or before 11:59:59 PM on that date - that is, before the specified day ends.
  • Due at or before 11:59:59 PM on the previous date - that is, before the specified day begins.
  • Due at or before a specific time on the date, such as the end of the workday for the person receiving the work.

(the below veers off the topic of the word's usage, but I thought it was worth adding)

Because of this ambiguity, it is extremely prudent to seek more clarification

  • At what time on that date does the deadline occur?
  • Is it problematic to be too early?
asfallows
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  • Thank you! I liked Tim's answer because of the cited references, but you added some more to that, especially regarding my context. – gphilip Aug 28 '14 at 16:45