at the end vs by the end

Both 'at the end' and 'by the end' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'At the end' is used to refer to a specific point in time or a conclusion, while 'by the end' is used to indicate a deadline or a point in time before a specific event. Therefore, the choice between the two depends on the context in which they are being used.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1931 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a specific point in time or a conclusion.

"at the end"

Use 'at the end' when referring to a specific point in time or a conclusion, such as 'At the end of the movie, the hero saves the day.'

Examples:

At the end of the day, we all need to relax.
I will see you at the end of the week.
The answer was revealed at the end of the book.
At the end of the road, there was a beautiful beach.
She finally found happiness at the end of her journey.

Show examples from the web [+]

However, at the end is most commonly used more literally, as a prepositional phrase followed by of, to refer to the end of a specific noun. This noun can be a ...
Nov 17, 2022 ... End of life: Managing mental and emotional needs; Spiritual needs at the end of life; Providing support for practical tasks. Not all end-of-life ...
Make sure you leave enough space and time at the end of the video for an end screen. Make sure you consider the video's last 20 seconds when editing it.
Factors considered important at the end of life by patients, family, physicians, and other care providers. JAMA. 2000 Nov 15;284(19):2476-82. doi: ...

Alternatives:

in the end
by the end
towards the end
until the end
at the conclusion

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a deadline or a point in time before a specific event.

"by the end"

Use 'by the end' when indicating a deadline or a point in time before a specific event, such as 'Please finish the report by the end of the day.'

Examples:

I need to finish this project by the end of the month.
She promised to return the book by the end of the week.
The repairs should be completed by the end of the day.
By the end of the movie, the mystery will be solved.
We should reach our destination by the end of the road.

Show examples from the web [+]

He was pretty paranoid by the end.
Was no party by the end.
But by the end, she was asking me if I knew any good divorce lawyers.
Funny, you know he'd almost won them round by the end.
And by the end, I was just making smoothies.
Besides, you may have won it all back by the end.
No, I didn't love him by the end.
So you draw a line from there to the other planets, and I think by the end, we all learned a little bit about how small we are.
Piano lands on us I mean, the winner was literally hobbled by the end.
But by the end, she really started to open up.
I sat down with two of them and I swear by the end there were three.
I think, by the end, he was even wearing my underwear.
Look, by the end, he knew that bar was an anchor around his neck, and he wanted me to have a bigger life than that.
At the beginning of the evening, it looked like no-one was going to come, but by the end...
Because by the end there were more guns than there were people to use them.
And, by the end, you're going to see clusters of obese and non-obese individuals within the network.
A jockey who was alive at the beginning of the race is dead by the end.
We had to ask permission of who everyone to give a car to, and by the end we were low on cars, we had to write case statements.
I am told that some are potentially dangerous, but if I personally were detained for seven years in complete isolation, whilst I might not have been potentially dangerous to begin with, I would certainly have become potentially dangerous by the end.
"This fly-by-night pretty-boy, tapped as the 'it actor' of the moment..."makes walking and talking seem so difficult, that by the end... "you wish someone would just let the man rest."

Alternatives:

before the end
prior to the end
by the deadline
by the conclusion
by the finish

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

at the end vs by the end

"at the end"

"by the end"

Related Comparisons

2. Submit Your Text

3. Receive Your Polished Text