English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
I am wondering which of the following is correct/preferable:
We need to take into account the cost incurred until action is finally taken.
vs
We need to account for the cost incurred before action is finally taken.
For a bit of context: this passage refers to an hypothetical scenario where someone procrastinates until they finally address the issue at hand. The sentence wants to draw attention to the fact that there are costs associated with this delay in taking action.
It probably depends on where the cost is cumulative or just a fixed cost. If the cost rises the longer they take,
We need to take into account the cost incurred until action is finally taken.
is probably the best to use.
If a fixed price
We need to account for the cost incurred before action is finally taken.
would be a suitable option. To be on the safe side, I would go for 'until' every time.
The first is preferable, because until clearly modifies "incurred".
In the second, before final action may modify account. i.e. the accounting must be completed before final action is allowed. Or it may mean the same as the first, that at/after final action, all costs preceding that action will need to be considered.
So use the first version, avoiding the ambiguity.
