[Grammar] upload sth by Friday or be uploaded by Friday

[Buddy42]

Dear teachers,

I'm not sure what construction to use when talking about deadlines for certain tasks.

A) Please send in / upload your homework by Friday 10 o'clock.
B) Your homework must be uploaded / sent in by Friday, 10 o'clock.

The passive form B sounds more natural to me here because to me it implies that the activity should be over by Friday...
Is A correct, too? Or do I have to replace "by" by "until" then? Meaning that the exact point in time is not important here, that is whenever it suits you but not later than Friday?

 

[GoesStation]

All four are possible. "Until" is not.

I prefer A.

 

[SoothingDave]

This incorrect use of "until" is something I see frequently in dealing with non-native speakers.

 

[probus]

This incorrect use of "until" is something I see frequently in dealing with non-native speakers.

Do they also misuse since? It's a common error among non-native-speakers here. For example: He has been in Canada since 50 years now.

 

[jutfrank]

You can use until like this:

You have until Friday 10 o'clock to submit your homework.

 

[GoesStation]

Or until ten o'clock Friday in American English.

 

[emsr2d2]

You can use until like this:

You have until Friday 10 o'clock to submit your homework.

Or until ten o'clock Friday in American English.

I'd use "until ten o'clock Friday" too (BrE). If I wanted to put "Friday" first, I'd follow it with "at ten o'clock".

 

[SoothingDave]

Do they also misuse since? It's a common error among non-native-speakers here. For example: He has been in Canada since 50 years now.

I'm usually having technical discussions about deadlines, so I am more familiar with that.

 

[jutfrank]

Or until ten o'clock Friday in American English.

Right. I think that way round is more likely too. The order in which a speaker puts day and time will depend on which part he or she wants to place slightly more focus on, or which comes to mind first. Both ways round are perfectly natural, of course, but it's more likely that the focus will be on the precise time, yes. It's not a variety difference. I chose to phrase it in keeping with the original sentence.

I'd use "until ten o'clock Friday" too (BrE). If I wanted to put "Friday" first, I'd follow it with "at ten o'clock".

Okay. In the context of verbally stating a deadline, it isn't necessary to use preposition. All of the following work fine:

until Friday at 10 o'clock
until 10 o'clock on Friday

until Friday 10 o'clock
until 10 o'clock Friday