overage

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'overage' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used as a noun or adjective to refer to something that is excessive or beyond a certain limit or age. For example: - The store had to mark down the overage items to make room for new stock. - There was an overage of sugar in the recipe, so I had to adjust the other ingredients. - The overage fees for exceeding your data limit can be quite expensive. - The overage workforce in the company has led to budget cuts and layoffs. - It is not advisable to hire overage players for a youth soccer team. In these examples, 'overage' is used to describe something that is excessive, exceeding a limit, or beyond a certain age.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The alternative is to pay 20 cents for each message with no plan; there is little in between.Unlimited plans comfort subscribers who fear sudden gushes of overage fees when they exceed metered text plans.

The Economist

If a consumer does not monitor usage, his internet access can be withdrawn or, in AT&T's case, overage fees of $10 charged for every additional 50 GB of usage.

The Economist

However, high-powered guarantors often negotiate a 50-50 split with the auction house of as much as 30% of the overage (the amount generated above the guaranteed price) and an additional 50% of the buyer's premium.

The Economist

Subscribers will be charged overage fees only after they have exceeded the limit three times.

The Economist

Mr Gutsche's overage, it should be noted, was nearly 40 times larger than his initial charge.

The Economist

If someone is racking up truly outrageous overage charges a good rule of thumb is anything beyond the price of the initial contract the operator should be sure to alert him.

The Economist

And because iMessage traverses the internet, it avoids the high fees associated with international texting.Since iMessage was released as part of iOS 5 in September 2011, your correspondent no longer incurs overage fees for exceeding the 200 messages in his texting plan.

The Economist

(That said, AT&T's overage fee is the most reasonably priced and sensible policy implemented for caps, since the charges bear some resemblance to the cost of delivery.

The Economist

With the opening of schools to many who were once denied education under semifeudal, colonial, or totalitarian systems, it has not been uncommon to find large numbers of overage students enrolled.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In these hard days the exchange of U.S. overage destroyers for British Caribbean bases and the response, by way of lend-lease, to Churchill's boast "Give us the tools and we'll finish the job" were especially heartening to one who believed in a "mixing-up" of the English-speaking democracies.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Philadelphia has been described both as the elegant but rather jaded great lady and as the overage and sickly spinster of American cities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to exceeding data limits on a mobile plan, use "overage" to clearly indicate extra charges due to exceeding the allowance.

Common error

Avoid using "overage" when "excess" or "surplus" might be more appropriate, especially in general contexts not related to contractual limits or age.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overage" is as a noun, referring to the amount by which something exceeds a limit. It can also function as an adjective, describing something that is older than a specified age. Ludwig shows this dual functionality in real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Encyclopedias

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Reference

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "overage" functions as both a noun and an adjective, most commonly used to describe the amount exceeding a limit or something older than specified. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Primarily found in News & Media and Encyclopedias, its register is generally neutral, leaning towards professional in business contexts. When writing, remember to use "overage" to specify excesses accurately, particularly in situations involving contractual limits or age restrictions. Be mindful of using more appropriate terms like "excess" or "surplus" in general contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Excess

Emphasizes that the quantity is beyond what is considered normal, acceptable, or desirable.

Surplus

Focuses on the idea of having more than what is needed or expected.

Extra

Highlights an amount added to what is usual or necessary.

Exceedance

Formal term referring to surpassing a specified limit or threshold.

Remainder

Refers to what is left after a part is taken away, subtly implying it wasn't needed initially.

Glut

Implies an excessive supply of something, leading to a decrease in value.

Spillover

Describes the overflow of something, suggesting a lack of containment.

Overpayment

Refers specifically to paying more than what is owed.

Carryover

Indicates an amount transferred from one period to the next, implying an accumulation.

Superabundance

Emphasizes an extremely high quantity of something.

FAQs

How can I avoid "overage" charges on my phone bill?

Monitor your data usage regularly, connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible, and consider upgrading to a plan with a higher data allowance or use alternatives like "excess data charges".

What's the difference between "overage" and "excess"?

"Overage" typically refers to exceeding a specific contractual limit, like data on a phone plan, while "excess" is a more general term for an amount beyond what's normal or necessary. You can say that "there's an overage on your phone bill" if you have "excess charges".

What does it mean if someone is described as an "overage" player in sports?

In the context of sports, especially in tournaments with age restrictions like the Olympics, an "overage" player is one who is older than the age limit but is allowed to participate under special rules, typically with a limited number of such players permitted per team.

What can I say instead of "overage" fees?

Alternatives include "excess fees", "additional charges", or "extra costs depending on the specific situation".