just over

USAGE SUMMARY

"just over" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
It is usually used to mean "just a little bit more than" or "slightly more than". For example, "I need to run just over a mile to finish this triathlon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Adults stand just over at the shoulder.

Wikipedia

UEFA anthem just over.

The New York Times

Just over half.

The New Yorker

"It's just over there".

The New Yorker

It's just over.

The New York Times

It's just over now".

The New York Times - Arts

(Population: just over 400).

The New York Times - Food

& weighs just over 80 lbs.

The New Yorker

Just over two minutes remain.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"They're just over-stocked".

The New York Times

Were the Ethiopians just over-confident?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just over" when you want to indicate an approximate value that is slightly higher than a specific number. For instance, "The project took just over four years" suggests an effort spanning roughly four years.

Common error

Resist the urge to replace "just over" with overly formal or complex alternatives when a simple approximation is sufficient. Phrases like "marginally exceeding" may be accurate but can sound unnecessarily verbose in everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just over" functions primarily as a prepositional modifier, typically preceding a noun phrase to indicate an approximate quantity or measurement that is slightly higher than the stated value. Ludwig examples show this usage in contexts ranging from time durations to populations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just over" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate a value that is slightly more than a specific amount. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely employed across various contexts. Analysis of Ludwig examples reveals that it functions as a modifier, primarily for providing estimations and approximations. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse writing styles, particularly in news and media. When aiming for semantic alternatives, consider options like "slightly above" or "a little more than", depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly above

This phrase directly replaces "just" with "slightly", maintaining a similar sense of marginal excess.

barely more than

This phrase emphasizes how close the value is to the reference point while still being higher.

a little more than

This alternative provides a more descriptive way to express the concept of being marginally greater than a value.

a fraction above

This suggests a minimal increment above the specified amount.

marginally exceeding

This phrase employs more formal language, suitable for academic or technical contexts.

slightly in excess of

Combines "slightly" with "in excess of" for a nuanced take on being marginally over.

in excess of

This alternative indicates that the value is beyond a particular threshold, although it doesn't necessarily imply a small difference.

a tad over

This is a more colloquial way to convey a small surplus.

somewhat higher than

This option focuses on the comparative aspect, highlighting that the value is somewhat greater.

just beyond

This alternative implies that something goes beyond a boundary or limit

FAQs

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

"Just over" is used to indicate a quantity or value that is slightly more than a specific amount. For example, "The meeting lasted "just over an hour"" or "The population is "just over 10,000"".

What phrases are similar to "just over"?

Similar phrases include "slightly above", "a little more than", or "in excess of", all used to express a marginal increase beyond a certain value.

Is it correct to use "just over" in formal writing?

Yes, "just over" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. While alternatives like "slightly above" might exist, "just over" is widely accepted and understood across various writing styles.

What's the difference between "just over" and "approximately"?

While both indicate approximation, "just over" specifies that the value is slightly higher than a given number, whereas "approximately" indicates a value that is near but not necessarily higher than the specified number. They aren't always interchangeable.