over the month

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "over the month" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a phrase used to refer to a period of time that extends over the course of a month, usually referring to a single month. For example, you might say, "I've been working on this project over the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We also reviewed what antidepressant medications depressed subjects had been taking over the month before the MRI.

Plosone

The parties came together over the month of June, and agreed on the definitive production specification for the Paragon.

Wikipedia

England was even slightly sunnier than a typical January, with an extra four hours over the month.

BBC

Wales experienced its wettest June according to the Met Office, with an average of 186.3mm (7.3in) falling over the month.

BBC

Irish employment was flat over the month.

The Guardian - Business

Last year, 2.2 million tickets were sold over the month.

Independent

Nursing care facilities lost 5,000 jobs over the month.

The Guardian - Business

Yields on ten-year Spanish government bonds rose by 30 basis points over the month.

The Economist

The output of manufactured goods rose by 0.9% over the month.

The Economist

RATLIFF I expect to see you on the rialto about 76 times over the month.

The New York Times - Arts

The encouraging figures included a 2.3 per cent jump in private housebuilding over the month.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "over the month", ensure clarity about the specific month you are referring to, especially if the context doesn't make it obvious. For example, you might say "over the month of June" to be precise.

Common error

Avoid using "over the month" when you actually mean "monthly" or "each month". "Over the month" refers to a specific, continuous period of one month, not a recurring monthly event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over the month" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate the timeframe in which an action or event takes place. Ludwig AI shows many examples in which "over the month" specifies when changes, increases, decreases, or observations occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "over the month" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that something occurs during a one-month period. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in news, science, and other formal contexts to describe trends, changes, or observations. While "over the month" is generally interchangeable with phrases like "during the month" and "throughout the month", it's crucial to use it accurately, ensuring it refers to a specific month and not a recurring monthly event. Remembering these nuances will help you employ "over the month" with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

During the month

Replaces "over" with "during", focusing on the time period in which something occurs.

Throughout the month

Emphasizes the continuous nature of an action or event across the entire month.

In the course of the month

Highlights the progression of time as something develops or happens.

Within the month

Focuses on events occurring inside the boundaries of a one-month timeframe.

For the duration of the month

Stresses the entire length of the month as the period in question.

During that month

Adds specificity by referring to a particular month already mentioned.

In a month's time

Highlights that something happened in the time span of a month.

Over the course of a month

Adds emphasis on the progression of events or actions happening during the month.

Across the month

Highlights that occurrences spanned throughout the entire period of a month.

Spanning the month

Focuses on something that lasted from the start to the end of the month.

FAQs

How can I use "over the month" in a sentence?

You can use "over the month" to describe events, changes, or trends that occur during a specific month. For example, "The company's sales increased significantly "over the month" of January".

What's the difference between "over the month" and "during the month"?

Both phrases are very similar, but "during the month" often emphasizes a specific point in time within that month, while ""over the month"" suggests a process or trend that unfolds throughout the entire month.

Is it correct to say "over the months" instead of "over the month"?

Yes, "over the months" is correct when referring to a period longer than a single month, implying a trend or event occurring across multiple months. "Over the month" is used for one specific month.

What are some alternatives to using "over the month"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "throughout the month", "in the course of the month", or "during the month" to convey a similar meaning.