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AIBU?

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Original poster

Please help settle an argument

86 replies

TheDogSitsHere · 12/06/2024 15:21

If you ask someone to submit a report "by 12th June" would you expect that it would be submitted

a) on the 11th June or before
b) on the 12th June or before

Thanks 🙏

OP posts:
TruthorDie · 12/06/2024 16:32

KimberleyClark · 12/06/2024 15:23

Close of play on the 12th.

This

HappiestSleeping · 12/06/2024 16:31

They did say they wanted it before 12th as they said they wanted it by the 12th. If you were going on holiday, and the airline said you need to check in by 7pm, you wouldn't arrive at 7:59pm and say "I thought you meant by the close of the hour".

Opinionwontchangeluv · 12/06/2024 16:26

Why is this an argument as long as it isn't after

bluewaxcrayon · 12/06/2024 16:24

put it another way, if they wanted it on the 11th, they would have requested BEFORE the 12th

Topseyt123 · 12/06/2024 16:17

Gall10 · 12/06/2024 16:07

Just to be awkward….A
It’s a bit like ‘best before date’ …best before 11th June…so eat it on the 10th.

No. A product wouldn't suddenly turn toxic at midnight on 11th if the best before date was 12th. Probably not even on 12th either.

Sniff it, look at it and feel it. If it smells, looks and feels fine then it usually is fine. I apply this to vegetables and fruit mostly. A bit more careful with meat.

longtompot · 12/06/2024 16:14

Gall10 · 12/06/2024 16:07

Just to be awkward….A
It’s a bit like ‘best before date’ …best before 11th June…so eat it on the 10th.

You can still eat the item until the end of the date that is on the packaging if a USE BY date, and even for a few days after if it's a BEST BEFORE date.

Does the use by date include that day? Yes, the food can be eaten before the expiration of the use by date. Keep in mind that when the packaging mentions instructions such as ‘eat within three days of opening’, it should still be eaten by the use by date, even if it has been open for less than three days

https://www.eufic.org/en/food-safety/article/best-before-use-by-and-sell-by-dates-explained?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwjqWzBhAqEiwAQmtgT5Mp0P7FZlU75Cr4A0CD3SabcfCm62aUB_C11cOLt7tY1cTvSk7gyBoCnUAQAvD_BwE

Anyway@TheDogSitsHere I'd say B, before the end of the 12th at the latest. If they wanted it before the 12th they should have said before the 12th.

Guavafish1 · 12/06/2024 16:11

b

Topseyt123 · 12/06/2024 16:11

B.

Oh, and no, I don't leave things until the last minute. I'd probably usually be largely ready the day before, but that's just me. Ready by close of business on the day stated is also fine.

ToriTheStoryteller · 12/06/2024 16:11

That would freak me out so I would either work with worst case scenario to have it done by end of 11th or ask them to clarify: by end of 11th or by end of 12th?

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 12/06/2024 16:10

TheDogSitsHere · 12/06/2024 16:08

So to use your analogy, if an item of food said "use by the 12th June" then you wouldn't eat it after the 11th?

Show quote history

I’d happily eat it at any time on 12th (and maybe even on the 13th 🤣)

Original poster
TheDogSitsHere · 12/06/2024 16:08

Gall10 · 12/06/2024 16:07

Just to be awkward….A
It’s a bit like ‘best before date’ …best before 11th June…so eat it on the 10th.

So to use your analogy, if an item of food said "use by the 12th June" then you wouldn't eat it after the 11th?

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 12/06/2024 16:07

Submitting by the 12th to me would mean that a report was ready to be used / read on the 12th.

That said, most people these days leave everything to the last minute, so I would actually do one of two things. If I am to respond, I would seek clarity over the time the recipient is expecting the report. Secondly, if I am setting the task I would ask for it to be in by a specific time on a specific day.

Gall10 · 12/06/2024 16:07

Just to be awkward….A
It’s a bit like ‘best before date’ …best before 11th June…so eat it on the 10th.

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 12/06/2024 16:06

Cambridge dictionary says by is “no later than”… so “by Friday” means “no later than Friday”. Therefore anytime after friday is late.

They definitely need to say “before” or specify the time “I need it by 9am on Friday” etc.

LightSpeeds · 12/06/2024 16:04

B

GabriellaMontez · 12/06/2024 16:01

B

Annie098 · 12/06/2024 16:00

B

Original poster
TheDogSitsHere · 12/06/2024 15:58

Thanks everyone, I've had two bollockings over this - one (at 7.45am on the morning of the 12th!) for being late submitting and then another when I actually apologised for misunderstanding that they meant before the 12th.

I'm glad I'm not going mad but I am pretty annoyed!

OP posts:
xerneas · 12/06/2024 15:57

B

Kezabella84 · 12/06/2024 15:56

A

Singinghollybob · 12/06/2024 15:54

I'd read it as before the 12th, so by end of day on 11th, but I can see I'm by far in the minority!

StripeyDeckchair · 12/06/2024 15:50

B

DappledThings · 12/06/2024 15:50

B.

Where are you in the argument?

anon4net · 12/06/2024 15:45

b

Justcallmebebes · 12/06/2024 15:45

KimberleyClark · 12/06/2024 15:23

Close of play on the 12th.

This