<em>Till</em> is a genuine, standard English word meaning <em>until</em>: <em>The shop stays open till nine.</em> <em>Til</em> is simply a misspelling — if you want the clipped, informal form you need the apostrophe: <em>Just one more week 'til payday.</em> Bare <em>til</em> belongs in text messages, not in writing anyone will edit.
The core difference
This is a spelling question rather than a meaning question. Till and until mean the same thing and are both fully standard. Til is not recognised as a standard spelling of either. The apostrophised 'til is recognised, but only as an informal clipping of until.
Crucially, till is not a shortening of until — it is a word in its own right, listed as such in every major dictionary, which is why it needs no apostrophe and no apology.
How to use each
- till — use freely wherever until would fit: We rehearsed till midnight. / Don't open it till Christmas. / Till then, keep it to yourself.
- 'til — informal, best kept to song titles, adverts, dialogue and casual notes: Only three sleeps 'til we go.
- til — avoid. Readers will read it as a typo, and spellcheckers flag it.
The test
If you are about to write an apostrophe, write two Ls instead. Till is shorter to type than 'til, is never wrong, and never looks casual. There is no sentence where 'til is correct and till is not.
What people actually do
Honest picture: till is common in British and Irish writing and slightly less common in formal American prose, where some writers avoid it because they mistakenly believe it is a clipped form and therefore sloppy. That belief is wrong, but it is widespread enough that in very formal documents — contracts, academic papers, official correspondence — until remains the safest choice for reasons of perception rather than correctness.
Til and 'til, meanwhile, are extremely common online and in lyrics, and nobody misunderstands them. They are simply informal.
The other till
Watch out for the unrelated words spelled the same way. A till is the cash drawer in a shop (she counted the till at closing), and to till is to prepare soil for planting (they tilled the top field). Context separates them effortlessly, but it does mean till occasionally needs a moment's thought where until would not: He worked till dark versus He worked the till.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "til" ever correct?
Not in standard writing. If you want the short form, write 'til with an apostrophe, or better still write till, which is a full standard word and needs no apostrophe at all.
Is "till" less formal than "until"?
Slightly, in perception rather than in fact. Till is entirely standard, but some readers wrongly assume it is a clipping, so in very formal documents until attracts no comment while till occasionally does.
Should I write "'til" or "till" in a song or advert?
Either works, and 'til reads as deliberately casual, which is often the point. Just be consistent within the same piece.