a shade over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a shade over" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to describe a number that is slightly higher than a certain value. For example, "The temperature today was a shade over 80 degrees".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The British presidency plan would cut the rebate by €8 billion in all (a shade over €1 billion a year).

The Economist

Brazil's stockmarket was only a shade over 1% higher than a year earlier, and China's declined.

The Economist

The pessimists numbered a shade over 84%.

The Guardian - Sport

That makes St James's worth a shade over £4bn.

The Guardian - Business

The bluefish weighed a shade over 12 pounds.

The New York Times - Sports

He is a shade over 6 feet 9 inches.

The New York Times - Sports

"He's lean and skinny and a shade over six foot.

The Guardian - Sport

10 cents is a shade over 15% of 65 cents.

The New Yorker

In all, there may be a shade over $1 billion in unspent TIF money.

The New York Times

When it began, I clocked in at a shade over 240 pounds.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Director Jackson maintains a fluctuating inner pulse, if occasionally a shade over-languid.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a shade over" when you want to indicate a quantity that is slightly more than a precise number, without implying a significant difference. It is useful for providing context without being overly exact.

Common error

Avoid using "a shade over" when the difference is substantial or significant; it's meant for slight, almost negligible increases. Using it for larger differences can be misleading and diminish the impact of the actual amount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a shade over" functions as a prepositional qualifier, modifying a numerical value to indicate it's slightly higher than the stated amount. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, and examples show it preceding measurements, amounts, and timeframes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a shade over" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that a value is slightly more than a specific number. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a prepositional qualifier and is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, serving to provide approximate values in a neutral register. While versatile, it's important to reserve its use for genuinely small differences, as misapplying it to significant variations can lead to misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly more than

Indicates a small increase above a stated amount.

a little bit more than

Emphasizes the small degree by which something exceeds a value.

just over

Conveys a sense of barely exceeding a specific limit or amount.

fractionally above

Suggests a very small, almost imperceptible increase.

a tad more than

Uses informal language to indicate a slight excess.

marginally higher than

Highlights the small difference in a more formal tone.

a hair's breadth above

Implies an extremely small margin above a value.

scarcely exceeding

Highlights that something barely goes over a given limit.

ever so slightly above

Emphasizes the minimal amount by which a value is exceeded.

nearing slightly above

Describe something getting close to going a small amount above a limit.

FAQs

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

Use "a shade over" to indicate that a value is slightly more than a specific number. For example, "The project took "a shade over" two months to complete".

What are some alternatives to "a shade over"?

Alternatives include "slightly more than", "just over", or "a little more than". The choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

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

While generally acceptable, consider the context. In very formal writing, "slightly more than" or "marginally higher than" might be more suitable. "A shade over" is often fine for neutral or slightly informal settings.

What's the difference between "a shade over" and "considerably more than"?

"A shade over" implies a small difference, while "considerably more than" indicates a significant and noticeable difference. Use "a shade over" when the amount is only slightly above a given number.