Like many other confusing words and phrases, "more than" and "over" have rules for usage. The English language has a right way and wrong way to for everything. The correct use of these words may depend more on where you live and work than on grammar rules.
Instructions
1. Understand an old journalism rule--for amounts, figures and countable numbers, use "more than," not "over" as the correct phrase.
2. Know that "over" refers to spatial reference, like "over six feet tall," among the same circles mentioned in Step 1.
3. Look at two examples here, and see how the above rules do not always work: " . . . a salary just under $30,000 a year . . . which is well more than what Joe earns." Clearly "well over what Joe earns" is the way it is said. Another example: "She ought to score well more than a 90 percent." It sounds funny. Again it needs to be "well over."
4. Use the first "more than" and "over" rules if you work in some arms of journalism. William Cullen Bryant, editor of the New York Evening Post, 1877, passed the rule down to journalism progeny, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. There are some journalism style books that still insist on the rules in Steps 1 and 2. Bill Walsh, newspaper editor, and William Safire, language commentator, also strongly prefer these rules. However, sometimes the rules just don't work. It is better not to follow rules blindly.
5. Apply the correct rules in your situation. The AP Stylebook for journalists advises writers to look at the sentence and use what works and sounds the best. If you live in England, you don't need to be concerned. Bryant's rules were an American tradition only. If you are not a journalist and live in the United States, you are free to use "over" and "more than" with numbers as you see fit.
