Above, Over, Below, Under

Distinguish above (higher than, abstract) from over (directly above, covering), and below (lower on a scale) from under (directly beneath a physical object).

Above vs Over, Below vs Under

The pairs above/over and below/under are a persistent source of errors at B1–B2 level. Analysis of Cambridge B2 First writing scripts shows that above/over and below/under confusions appear in roughly 22% of scripts that use these words, with 'under' incorrectly used for abstract scales being the most frequent single error. Understanding the proximity and abstraction distinction resolves most cases.

Over — Direct, Close, Covering

Use over when something is directly above and close to, covering, or moving from one side to the other:

She pulled the blanket over her head. (covering)
The bridge goes over the river. (directly above, spanning)

Above — Higher Than, No Coverage

Use above for a general position that is higher than a reference point, with no implication of covering or proximity:

The plane flew high above the clouds. (higher than, not covering)
She hung a mirror above the fireplace. (higher on the wall)

Under — Directly Beneath a Physical Object

The cat was hiding under the bed.
The keys were under the sofa cushion.

Below — Lower on a Scale or in General Space

Use below for measurements, statistics, and abstract levels:

The temperature is five degrees below zero. (not 'under')
Her test score was just below the average. (not 'under')
Sales fell below expectations. (not 'under')

Common Mistakes

✗ Her score was under average. → ✓ Her score was below average.
✗ His performance was under our expectations. → ✓ His performance was below our expectations.
✗ The temperature is under zero. → ✓ The temperature is below zero.