prepositions - Can "under" and "within" mean the same in a quantified context?


We use "under" for the measurement of time and weight, like this:



The egg was boiled under 12 minutes.


The bag was just under 10 kilos, so I was able to bring it on the plane. [from here]



In the sentences quoted above, I think that "within" can also be used in place of "under", as they both imply the same meaning of incomplete time or weight:



The egg was boiled within 12 minutes.


The bag was just within 10 kilos, so I was able to bring it on the plane.



So, can we use under and within to mean the same in such context? And is it appropriate to use them interchangeably?



Answer



Yes, for example quoting from Fire Tests with Textiles (6 December 1911):



Of the 12 washed samples 11 were wholly consumed within 60 seconds, and of the remaining sample 98 per cent was ... washed samples, an average of 98.91 was consumed in 60 seconds, six of which were all consumed under 60 seconds.



and similarly, from Public Problems - Private Solutions?: Globalizing Cities in the South (2005):



Today public authorities respond to BAC calls within 60 seconds, which reduces time for criminals to act. 'We have achieved our aim of responding to any incident in the inner city in under 60 seconds.



and from Interval between decision and delivery by caesaran section Royal College of Midwives Midwives Journal (2001):



During the first cycle 188 cases of emergency LSCS occurred, of which 77 (41%) had a time of under 30 minutes between decision and delivery. In the second cycle 55 of 107 (51%) cases were considered to need delivery within 30 minutes



So, in certain situations, the two words can be used interchangeably.


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