Across, over or through?

Across

1) We use across as a preposition (prep) and an adverb (adv). Across means on the other side of
something, or from one side to the other of something which has sides or limits such as a city, road or
river:
We took a boat [PREP]across the river.
[PREP]Across the room, she could see some old friends. She got up and went to join them.
My neighbour came [ADV]across to see me this morning to complain about our cat.
The road was so busy that we found it difficult to get [ADV]across.

Warning: When we talk about movement from one side to another but in something, such as long grass
or a forest, we use through instead of across:
I love walking through the forest. (through stresses being in the forest as I walk)
Not: I love walking across the forest.
When my dog runs through long grass, its difficult to find him. (through stresses that the dog is in the
grass)
Not: When my dog runs across long grass

Warning: When moving from one side to another while surrounded by something, we use
through not across:
We cycled through a number of small villages.
Not: We cycled across a number of small villages.


2) We also use across when something touches or stretches from one side to another:
The Ponte Vecchio is a beautiful old bridge across the river Arno in Florence.
She divided the page by drawing a red line across it. Then she cut it in two.
Warning : When we talk about something extending or moving from one side to another, we
use across not on:
The papers were spread across the table.
Not: The papers were spread on the table.


3) Especially in American English, across from is used to refer to people or objects being opposite or on
the other side: (de frente)
The pharmacy is across from the Town Hall.
Helens office is just across from mine.

4) We use across to emphasise that something is happening at the same time in many places, e.g. within
an organisation, a city or a country:
Shes opened coffee shops across the city and theyre very successful.
Across the country, people are coming out to vote for a new president.

5) We also use across to refer to the width or diagonal measurement of something:
The size of a television screen is measured from the higher corner of one side to the lower corner of the
other side, that is, from one corner across to the opposite corner.

6) Across comes after measurements when we talk about diameter or width:
The building is 157 metres long, 92 metres across and the faade is 68 metres wide.

Over
1) We use over as a preposition and an adverb to refer to something at a higher position than something
else, sometimes involving movement from one side to another:

From the castle tower, you can see [PREP]over the whole city.
We toasted marshmallows [PREP]over the fire.
We drove high up [PREP]over the mountains on a narrow dangerous road.
Suddenly a plane flew [ADV]over and dropped hundreds of leaflets.

2) Come over often means to come to the speakers home:
You must come [ADV]over and have dinner with us some time.

3) Especially when we use them as adverbs, over can mean the same as across:
We walked over to the shop. (or We walked across to the shop the shop is on the other side of the
road)
I was going across to say hello when I realised that I couldnt remember his name. (or I was going over to
say meaning to the other side of the street or room)

4) We use over, not through, to refer to periods of time from start to finish when a number is specified (of
days, weeks, etc.):
Over the last few days, I have been thinking a lot about quitting my job.
We havent seen each other much over the last four years.
Not: We havent seen each other much through the last four years

Note: When referring to a period of time from start to finish, American English speakers often
use through where British English speakers say from to/till :
The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 am5 pm. (preferred British form: from Monday to Friday)