THE ANARCHIST'S GUIDE TO GRAMMAR: QUESTION: My editor changed my text from "over 500 people attended" to "more than 500 people attended". Why?

Thursday, June 16, 2011

QUESTION: My editor changed my text from "over 500 people attended" to "more than 500 people attended". Why?

Your editor is using a style manual that says: use more when referring to "numbers" and use over when referring to "above". Smart editor! Some style manuals don't notice this one.

1 comment:

bette said...: You're right. I still see it in other magazines. Can they do that?; June 21, 2011 at 12:41 PM

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About the Grammar Anarchist

The Grammar Anarchist is a published author of books on language, an editor working with other writers, and a writing instructor (not a teacher, who can "teach" writing?) She toils from a dust-free computerized location in the Northwest (free of urban intervention).

The Grammar Anarchist has put up with the bad language habits that are running rampant in the U.S. and has pledged to do away with (destroy, eliminate, terminate, undo, get rid of) those who insist on trying to force "rules" on unsuspecting writers.

A friendly Anarchist, she is willing to help the ungrammarized to clean up their acts, exercise their control over language, and live unfettered lives of happy communication.

No words have been (or will be) harmed in the execution of this exercise.