The Distinction Between ‘Till’ and ‘To’ in English

Whether you're a native English speaker or a learner, you might have encountered the use of till and to in your sentence structures. This article aims to clarify the differences between these terms, their usage, and provide insights through practical examples. Additionally, we'll explore why certain words are preferred in certain contexts, such as time vs. distance, and delve into the frequency of their usage in formal and informal writing.

Purpose and Direction: To vs. Till

Both to and till can denote direction or purpose, but they are used in different contexts. To is often used to indicate movement or completion of a task, such as distance or a specific point in time. Till, on the other hand, is typically used in reference to a period of time until a certain event or condition changes.

To vs. Till in Time vs. Distance:

Time: "Don't leave until the end of the performance." Here, until (a more formal version of till) is used to indicate the end of a specific event. Distance: "Keep right on to the end of the road." In this case, to is used to indicate a physical destination.

Formal vs. Informal Usage: Till or To?

Choosing between till and to depends on the formality of your writing and the context it's being used in. Till is known as a truncated form of until and is more common in informal writing. However, in formal writing, it is usually preferred to use until. The choice doesn't change the meaning but does alter the tone of the sentence.

Example:

Informal: "I won’t be able to see you till next week because I have too much work at the moment."

Formal: "I won’t be able to see you until next week because I have too much work at the moment."

As for the preposition till in other contexts, such as "friends till the end," it is more common to hear "friends to the end" in formal writing. This is illustrated by the Google Ngram data, where "friends to the end" is more frequently used than "friends till the end."

Frequency of Usage

The frequency of till and to in various contexts can be explored using the Google Ngram Viewer. A specific search was conducted to compare the usage of "friends till the end" vs. "friends to the end," highlighting the more frequent usage of to. Another search compared "to the end of time" vs. "till the end of time," showing that to is more popular. A third search, "to / till / until the cows come home," further demonstrated that to is the least used form.

Conclusion:

Whether you are using till or to in your writing, it is essential to understand the context and formality level of the text. While till can be used in both informal and formal settings, formal writing often favors until or to over till. Exploring these minor differences can help improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

References:
Google Ngram - friends till the end vs. friends to the end Google Ngram - till the end of time vs. to the end of time vs. until the end of time Google Ngram - to till the cows come home vs. till the cows come home vs. until the cows come home