Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2004

cibalo@gmx.co.uk (Ciba LO) wrote on 27 Feb 2004:

Better see a doctor if your period has been on since last August.

OBAUE: Without the entire sentence, it's more difficult to provide a
better way of saying what you want to say, but there are a few choices.

1. In, eg, "John was in Italy for the period from X to Y" or "This
agreement was valid only for the period from X to Y", "for the period"
is decidedly verbose. Delete it.

2. "to date" in the "Y" position is stiff. Don't use it.

3. What's wrong with "until this very {moment/second/instant}"? They
all mean the same thing, but one way is probably more appropriate to
the context in which the phrase will be put. What is the entire
sentence and what is the context?

4. "Please help!!!" is far too urgent for a Usenet post. If it's that
important, perhaps you ought to call 911.

Is usually written, and means the period up to the date on the document
(usually a letter).  The reader may not be reading it on the same day it
was written - it's like saying - "this information is correct now as I'm
writing (but it may not be when you read this)".

"Period from 08/AUG/03 to today"?

Gets us into problems if I write it today but you don't read it till
tomorrow.

DC