over the summer

USAGE SUMMARY

"over the summer" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to reference a time period of a few months or more that takes place between the spring and fall. For example: "I made a lot of progress on my novel over the summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

They reportedly separated over the summer.

Huffington Post

Over the summer, things changed.

The New Yorker

No distractions over the summer.

The New York Times

Neither woman dated over the summer.

The New Yorker

They moved in over the summer.

The New York Times

"I've prepared myself over the summer".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

It changed over the last month.

The New Yorker

The warning signs continued over the next year.

The New York Times

The public dispute over the 2007 N.I.E.

The New Yorker

The dynamic has shifted over the last several years.

The New York Times

The average over the last six months: 286.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying a particular summer (e.g. "summer of '69"), use the construction "during the summer of" instead of "over the summer."

Common error

Avoid using "over the summer" when referring to a specific date or event within the summer; it implies a duration, not a precise moment. For instance, instead of "I met her over the summer on July 15th", write "I met her on July 15th during the summer."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "over the summer" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a prepositional phrase acting as an adjunct. It modifies a verb or clause, indicating when an action occurred or a state existed. As Ludwig AI correctly points out, it references a time period between spring and fall.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

21%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "over the summer" is a common and correct way to indicate that something occurred during the summer period, functioning as an adverbial phrase that adds temporal context. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it clearly refers to the period between spring and fall. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various writing contexts, particularly news and media, but also academia and general conversation. When employing the phrase, it's crucial to ensure it accurately conveys a duration rather than a specific date, and to choose "during the summer of" when referencing a particular summer year. Remember that phrases like "during the summer months" or "in the summertime" can serve as useful alternatives depending on your desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the summer months

Specifies the period when something occurred, focusing on the span of the summer.

throughout the summer

Highlights the continuous aspect of an event happening from the beginning to the end of summer.

in the summertime

Refers to the season of summer as the period during which something happens.

this past summer

Specifies the summer that immediately preceded the current time.

last summer

Indicates the summer of the previous year.

in summer

A shorter way to specify the season during which an event took place.

summer period

Emphasizes the duration of the summer season.

summer season

Highlights the season of summer as a time frame.

during those summer days

Specifies a duration focusing on specific days during the summer.

when summer arrived

Focuses on the start of the summer season as the point in time when something occurred.

FAQs

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

You can use "over the summer" to indicate that an action or event occurred during the summer period. For example, "I traveled to Europe "over the summer"".

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

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "during the summer months", "throughout the summer", or "in the summertime".

Is it correct to say "in the summer" instead of "over the summer"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they imply slightly different meanings. "In the summer" refers to the season generally, while "over the summer" suggests a duration or period of time within the summer season.

Can "over the summer" be used to describe a single event, or does it always imply a longer period?

"Over the summer" generally implies a duration or period of time, not a single event. If you're describing a single event, it's better to use "in the summer" or specify the date.