Before/by/after etc.

Do it by May 5. --> including May 5 I agree.

Do it before May 5. --> not including May 5 generally I agree.

Do it after May 5. --> could be either including or not including May 5 I disagree. May 6 is the first day after May 5.

Do it just after May 5. --> including May 5 generally I would say Do it soon after May 5. That

Hi guys,

Here's what I think.

Do it by May 5. --> including May 5 I agree. Maybe. Unclear. If it's important, ask for clarification.


Do it before May 5. --> not including May 5 generally I agree. Yes

Thanks for your opinion, Clive.

Thanks, CB and Clive. I understand.

CliveDo it by May 5. --> including May 5 I agree. Maybe. Unclear. If it's important, ask for clarification.

I wondered about this and looked "by" up in Random House Dictionary:

6. not later than; at or before: I usually finish work by five o'clock.

Th

Hi,

No, I don't agree.

In your example, 'by 5 o'clock' is a point in time

But 'by Friday' is not a clear point in time.

eg Does it mean

by the start of Friday?

by the end of Friday?

Clive

So "not later than Friday" does not include Friday?

CB

Hi,

That's clear. But that's not what we are discussing, which is 'by Friday'.

What I said was

Do it by May 5. --> including May 5 I agree. Maybe. Unclear. If it's important, ask for clarification.

Clive But that's not what we are discussing,

I'm discussing the definition given in the dictionary: "not later than". I do believe that you understand "by Friday" differently from the definition given in the dictionary and your being a native speaker gives special emphasis to your opinion. I'd be interested in knowing whether other native speakers understand "