“He has over a million miles on that airline” - Adjective and adverb attitudes

Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

“He has over a million miles on that airline”
Adjective and adverb attitudes

OVER VERSUS MORE THAN

The passenger would probably be far safer riding inside the plane. The confusion between over and more than is understandable. Over refers to a physical position. More than applies to amounts. The two words are synonyms, but not interchangeable.

Incorrect:

Gertrude has over 10 years of military experience.

Correct:

Gertrude has more than 10 years of military experience.

Correct:

Ebeneezer has more than a million excuses for why he can’t get his reports finished on time.

Mortimer went over his boss’s head to ask for a raise.

Fritz looked over the blueprints and explained the changes.

Wilmo has more than four different supervisors who rate his work.

Eldora wants to be paid double time for more than 40 hours.

Memory tip

Imagine that your friend is a contestant on a TV game show and that you’re watching from the studio audience, which is allowed to help contestants onstage. The host asks your friend a question: “How many unemployed heads of household, with four children, live in the state of New York?”

Your friend starts to guess aloud before giving a final answer to the show’s host. Trying to help your friend, you shout out, “More.”

Your friend guesses a higher number.

You shout, “More.”

Your friend guesses still higher.

“More.”

Final guess. The game show host reveals the answer. Your friend wins, thanks to your help. The game ends.

Instant replay:

Would you ever say to your friend, “Over that.” “No, over that.” “No, over that.”

Probably not.

When you’re talking about numbers, the correct phrase is higher or more than, not over (unless, of course, you’re talking about fences).