Learn English – Any difference in meaning? “Until what time” and “How late”

phrase-usage

To me, "until what time" and "how late" seem to have the same exact meaning and can be used interchangeably. For example, the following pairs of sentences illustrate some usages that seem the same to me:

  • a1) Until what time were you at work last night?
    a2) How late were you at work last night?

  • b1) Until what time did you stay at work last night?
    b2) How late did you stay at work last night?

  • c1) Until what time did you work last night?
    c2) How late did you work last night?

  • d1) Until what time can I call you?
    d2) How late can I call you?

Am I correct that these phrases are exactly the same? If not, why?

Best Answer

There's nothing specifically wrong with any of those examples. There are three notable differences between using "until" vs. "how late":

  1. Until is more formal and is soliciting a specific time, such as 3AM.
  2. "How late" is less formal and an estimate is appropriate, such as 'sometime after 3'.
  3. In these examples, "until" is not relative to anything. "How late" suggests someone was either working past their normal time or late at night.
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