over and above

USAGE SUMMARY

"over and above" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something is in addition to what was already mentioned. For example: "The company will pay overtime wages over and above the agreed salary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nice had gone "over and above their usual processes to try to approve it", she said.

The Guardian

He said that the government needs to go "over and above" the existing 13,750 quota.

The Guardian

According to Webster, it means "additional to" or "over and above the normal".

Huffington Post

You see enormous premiums over and above the going wage.

Yale University

Over and above all this, of course, is London itself.

The Guardian

There is a zeitgeist which rainbows over and above fashion.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And over and above, she was a good woman.

The New Yorker

Over and above these subscribers, our books are in bookshops.

The Guardian - Books

Reserves over and above those required are called excess reserves.

The New York Times

"It is something that is over and above politics".

The New York Times

Over and above its lousy website, Obamacare was mis-sold.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "over and above" to emphasize that something is not just added, but is significantly more than what is expected or required. For example, "The company offered bonuses over and above the regular salary."

Common error

Avoid using "over and above" when you simply mean 'in addition to' without the implication of exceeding expectations. Using it inappropriately can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic or hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over and above" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase. It modifies nouns or clauses to indicate something is additional or supplementary. As noted by Ludwig, it emphasizes the presence of something extra. It can also act as an adverb, modifying verbs or adjectives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "over and above" functions as a prepositional phrase or adverb to signify 'in addition to' or 'more than'. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly used in various contexts, including news, academia, and science, with a tendency towards formal or professional registers. While alternatives like ""in addition to"" and "besides" exist, "over and above" carries a stronger emphasis on excess or supplement. Use it to emphasize when something significantly exceeds expectations but avoid using it when simple addition is all that is meant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in addition to

Focuses on the additive aspect without necessarily implying excess.

above and beyond

Emphasizes exceeding expectations or requirements significantly.

besides

A more concise way to indicate something is included as well.

on top of

Suggests adding something physically or metaphorically to an existing base.

more than

Highlights exceeding a certain quantity or expectation.

beyond

Implies exceeding a limit or scope.

supplementary to

Formal term emphasizing an addition that completes or enhances something.

exclusive of

Focuses on the extra or excess nature rather than simple addition.

aside from

Indicates an exception or additional element, often of lesser importance.

plus

Informal way to indicate addition.

FAQs

How to use "over and above" in a sentence?

"Over and above" is used to indicate something is additional to what is already mentioned. For example, "The company provides health insurance "in addition to" a competitive salary".

What can I say instead of "over and above"?

You can use alternatives like ""in addition to"", "besides", or "on top of" depending on the context.

Is "over and above" formal or informal?

"Over and above" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally perceived as more formal than alternatives like "plus" or "on top of".

What's the difference between "over and above" and "above and beyond"?

"Over and above" means 'in addition to', while "above and beyond" implies exceeding expectations or going further than what is required. The latter carries a stronger connotation of exceptional effort.