before the date

[Verona_82]

Hello,

I've got a test question which reads

"The expiry date is on the back. It is the date ____ which you can use the gift voucher".

a. until
b. before

Is b unacceptable?

Thank you.

[emsr2d2]

An expiry date usually means that you can use something up to and including a certain date.

If a gift voucher has an expiry date of 31st January 2012, you can use it right up until 23:59hrs on 31st January 2012.

On that basis, "before" is incorrect. In order to use it "before 31st January 2012" you would have to use it by 23:59hrs on 30th January 2012.

"Until which" would suggest any date including the expiry date.

[Verona_82]

Thank you. It's clear now. But as for foodstuffs and their best before dates, is "until" the wrong preposition? If the best before date on a carton of eggs reads 31 Jan, doI have to use them before or until 31 Jan?

[5jj]

In 'best before', 'before' means before.

[Morton88]

Hello there. I think it's quite a weird sentence you have in your test. Cause for me both variants are wrong. And I'm the native speaker after all.
_________

flv to avi converter

[5jj]

Hello there. I think it's quite a weird sentence you have in your test., Cbecause for me both variants are wrong. And I'm the native speaker after all.

The native speaker?

What do you think is wrong with "The expiry date is on the back. It is the date until which you can use the gift voucher"?