When we use aboveas a preposition, it means ‘higher than’. Its meaning is close to that of the prepositionover. In the following sentences,overcan be used instead ofabove:
The waves came upaboveher head and she started screaming.(or …came upoverher head…)
She is a nervous flier. But once the plane gotabovethe clouds, she started to relax.(or …gotoverthe clouds …)
We useabove, but notover, to refer to things that are at an upper or higher level:
[a ‘chalet’ is a small wooden building usually found in mountainous areas]
Do they live in that chaletabovethe village?
Not:Do they live in that chalet over the village?
We usually useabove, but notover, when there is no contact between the things referred to.Overoron top ofhave a more general meaning, and can be used when one thing touches or covers another:
They made her comfortable and put a blanketoverher.
Not:They made her comfortable and put a blanket above her.
We normally useovernotabovewith numbers:
I getoversixty emails a day.
Not:I get above sixty emails a day.
If you weighover100 kilograms, then you may need to start a diet.
Not:If you weigh above 100 kilograms
When we talk about temperatures in relation tozeroor (the) average, we useabovenotover:
It was three degreesabovezero.
Not:It was three degrees over zero.
When we refer to temperatures in other contexts, we can normally useaboveorover:
The temperature is alreadyabove30 degrees.(or …over30 degrees.)
Typical errors
We don’t useoverto mean ‘higher level’.
Most of the race is 500 metresabovesea level.
Not:Most of the race is 500 metres over sea level.
We don’t useabovewhen one thing touches or covers another.
Pour some creamoverthe tart and serve it warm.
Not:Pour some cream above the tart
We don’t useabovewith numbers.
Over100 people complained about the programme.
Not:Above 100 people complained
See also:
Over
Beneath
Above