are they correct?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Are the following sentences correct?

"I tried till the last moment to arrange Friday for the meeting without success. I am really sorry to have to miss it. "

Are "till" or "until" used depending on the context (formal/informal)?

Thanks
abrilsp

 

[abrilsp]

Sorry the post was mine. I thought I was logged in. I do not like to be a guest as I feel as at house on this forum.
Thanks again

 

[RonBee]

"I tried till the last moment to arrange Friday for the meeting without success. I am really sorry to have to miss it. "

The first sentence is rather awkward and its meaning is unclear. The second sentence tells me what the first sentence should say. Try:

• I tried until the last moment to arrange to attend the meeting Friday. I am really sorry to have to miss it.

You don't really need without success as tried carries with it the implication of lack of success. (If we succeed at something we don't say I tried; we say I did it.

Are "till" or "until" used depending on the context (formal/informal)?

I think the main reason is euphony (Greek: good sound). In other words, it sounds better to say tried until.

Does that help? (Perhaps you will get some other opinions on till/until.)

 

[abrilsp]

Very helpful, thanks a lot. I find "until" sounds better as well.

I tried until the last moment to arrange to attend the meeting Friday

It should not be "the meeting on Friday"?

Thanks
abrilsp

 

[RonBee]

Very helpful, thanks a lot. I find "until" sounds better as well.

I tried until the last moment to arrange to attend the meeting Friday

It should not be "the meeting on Friday"?

Either one is okay.

Pen Pals
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=34

English Idioms
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1697

Brief Verse (Couplets)
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1579

 

[Red5]

• I tried until the last moment to arrange to attend the meeting Friday. I am really sorry to have to miss it.

I find the to arrange to attend the meeting rather repetitive. Would there be a better way to phrase this section?

 

[RonBee]

• I tried until the last moment to arrange to attend the meeting Friday. I am really sorry to have to miss it.

I find the to arrange to attend the meeting rather repetitive. Would there be a better way to phrase this section?

I don't think so. When he tried to make arrangements to attend the meeting he tried to put off some other things, but those other things were more urgent. If you just say he tried to attend the meeting that might mean that he couldn't get transportation, but that is not the way I see it. I see it as him trying to rearrange his schedule so he could attend the meeting.

What do you think?

Pen Pals
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=34

English Idioms
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1697

Brief Verse (Couplets)
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1579