When will it be over?

July 2nd, 2009 at 07:00am Barry Wood

The Associated Press clings to the notion that “over” is better for “spatial relationships” (”the cow jumped over the moon”) and “more than” is better “with numerals” (”he now makes more than $1 million a year”).

The AP can be excruciatingly slow to change its ways. In “Garner’s Modern American Usage,” Bryan A. Garner says “over” and “more than” are interchangeable in the latter instance, adding “and this has been so for more than 600 years.” (I would have said “over 600 years” to underscore the point.)

Garner concludes with, “The charge that ‘over’ is inferior to ‘more than’ is a baseless crotchet.”

I doubt there are many readers who are confused by this use of “over” when they see it, so it also passes the comprehension test.

And it’s a heck of a lot easier to fit into headlines.

Entry Filed under: word choices