a little over

USAGE SUMMARY

"a little over" is a phrase commonly used in written English.
You can use "a little over" to refer to amounts that are slightly greater than an exact number. For example: "I ran a little over 5 miles this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

For European companies, it's a little over 12.

The New York Times

They got a little over optimistic.

TechCrunch

That's a little over $100 a month.

Huffington Post

We married a little over a year ago.

The New York Times

A little over a year ago.

TechCrunch

A little over year.

The New York Times

"A little over a hundred".

The New Yorker

A little over a minute remained.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Perhaps a little over- or possibly undercooked.

The New Yorker

She sighs, a little over-dramatically.

The Guardian - Music

"It's a little over-priced," King said.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a little over" with numbers, ensure that the context supports the need for approximation rather than an exact value. If the precise number is important, provide the exact value instead.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on approximations using "a little over" when specific data is available. Providing exact figures when possible enhances credibility and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little over" functions as a prepositional modifier, typically used to provide an approximate quantity or measurement that is slightly higher than a given value. Ludwig confirms its common use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a little over" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that a quantity is slightly more than a stated amount. As affirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. While the phrase offers a convenient way to provide an approximation, writers should be mindful of their audience and context, opting for more precise language when accuracy is key. Additionally, it is important to not overuse this phrase when specific data is available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly more than

Emphasizes the small degree by which the amount exceeds the stated value.

Just above

Indicates the amount is marginally higher than the given value.

A bit beyond

Highlights a small exceedance of the specified limit or quantity.

Somewhat exceeding

Suggests a moderate degree of exceeding a certain limit or value.

In excess of

Implies a slight surplus over a particular amount.

Marginally surpassing

Conveys the idea of a minimal degree of surpassing a specific value.

Barely exceeding

Focuses on the small margin by which something goes over a set quantity.

A shade over

Uses a figurative expression to imply a very slight increase.

Scarcely more than

Stresses that the amount by which something exceeds is very minimal.

Approximately greater than

Uses a more formal tone to indicate the amount is roughly higher than a certain value.

FAQs

How can I use "a little over" in a sentence?

Use "a little over" to indicate that an amount is slightly more than a specified number. For instance, "The meeting lasted "a little over" an hour" implies the duration was slightly longer than one hour.

What are some alternatives to using "a little over"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "slightly more than", "just above", or "a bit beyond" to convey a similar meaning as "a little over".

Is it appropriate to use "a little over" in formal writing?

While "a little over" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "in excess of" or "approximately greater than" in academic or professional contexts to maintain a higher degree of formality.

How precise is the approximation implied by "a little over"?

"A little over" suggests a small increment above the stated amount, typically implying it's not significantly more. If the amount exceeds considerably, using phrases like "well over" or "significantly more than" might be more appropriate.