AP says ‘over’ is an acceptable substitute for ‘more than’

Nearly a year ago, the Associated Press changed one of the entries in the AP Stylebook that people often pointed to as an example of its strange tics: “under way.”

It became “one word in all forms,” and a handful of editors expressed their displeasure. Before that, rules for the use of “hopefully” loosened and grammarians got upset.

Those were nothing compared to the reaction change the AP announced Thursday afternoon:

AP Style tip: New to the Stylebook: over, as well as more than, is acceptable to indicate greater numerical value. #ACES2014

— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) March 20, 2014

The AP explained to Poynter that “over” has “become common usage.”