Work emails · Plain-English guide
What does “End of play” mean?
The end of the working day; the actual time should be stated.
“Cricket has much to answer for.” — Arthur
What it means in practice
This usually means the end of the working day. It does not specify an hour, and people working different shifts or in different time zones may understand it differently.
An example and a clearer version
The original wording
Send the figures by end of play.
In plain English
Please send the figures by 5 pm today.
What to say instead
the end of the working day.
How to make the next step clear
For a deadline that matters, give the day, time and time zone where needed. Avoid inventing a five o’clock deadline if the sender has not stated one.
Wording you can adapt
When you say end of play, do you mean 5 pm UK time today?
The wording around a phrase matters. Keep the names, dates, amounts and conditions from the original when you rewrite it.
Try “End of play” with Arthur →