More than vs. over: when should we use each of them? I didn’t realize there was a difference in this until earlier this year when my editor explained it to me. Editorially, there are certain times when we should use each of these terms.
The Canadian Press guide states:
More than is followed by a singular verb when the noun is singular: “More than one tank was hit.”
Over: In the sense of in excess of, used interchangeably with more than: “Creasey and Simenon have each published over (more than) 500 books.”
Although they can be used interchangeably, the singular does make the difference. In general, more than is typically used in front of numerals. It is thought to be a more formal, professional way of describing the situation.