Below

Below meaning ‘lower than’

We use below most commonly as a preposition meaning ‘lower than’. It has a similar meaning
to under. The opposite of below is above. We use it when there is no contact between people or
things:

[a teacher talking to a class]

Open your exercise book on page 27. Just below the picture there are some questions. Look at
the picture and answer the questions.
There was a big clock below the painting.

When the adverb below is used to modify a noun, it follows the noun:
The apartment below is owned by a French couple.
We lived up in the mountains and the nearest town below was half an hour’s drive.

We use the adverb below when referring to the lower level or deck of a boat or ship:
[talking about a boat]
It was a wonderful little boat. We spent most of our time fishing and watching the sea. We’d
go below to sleep and to eat.

Below with numbers, amounts or statistics

When we talk about numbers, amounts or statistics being at a lower level, we use below more
than under:
Inflation has fallen below 5% for the first time in six years.
The company’s profits in 2008 were below what they had hoped for.

Below referring forward in writing

In formal writing, we use below to refer to something that we will mention or show later:
In the figure below, the results show that 54% of the rats tested were carrying the antibody …
There has been much discussion and debate about global warming (see below).
 Below: typical error
 We don’t use below when one thing touches or covers or hides something else; we usually
use under instead:
Under a white coat, she wore an amazing red dress.
Not: Below a white coat …

Above
Above meaning ‘higher than’
Above means ‘higher than’. We usually use it when there is no contact between people
or things:
[a doctor asks a patient]
Can you raise your hand [PREP ]above your head for me please? (Can you raise you
hand higher than your head?)
The river flowed gently through the valley, while birds flew [ADV]above. It was a beautiful
scene.
The opposites of above are under, below and beneath.

Measuring higher
We use above to talk about measurements and temperatures that are higher than a
particular level:
Mexico City is 2,240 metres above sea level.
Temperatures above 25 degrees are rare in this part of the world.

As mentioned above: Referring back in writing

In formal writing, we often use above not before to refer back to something we have
already written about. We can use as mentioned above, as noted above, as
demonstrated above, as shown above:
As noted above, all employees must take part in our health and safety course.
Not: As noted before …
As demonstrated above, this problem is very complex.
Not: As demonstrated before …
We can also say the above. We only do this when the readers understand clearly
what the above refers to:
As the table above shows, there has been a rapid rise in greenhouse gases. (or As the
above shows … the reader understands that the above refers to the table)

Above or over?
When we use above as a preposition, it means ‘higher than’. Its meaning is close to that of
the preposition over. In the following sentences, over can be used instead of above:

The waves came up above her head and she started screaming. (or … came up over her head …)
She is a nervous flier. But once the plane got above the clouds, she started to relax. (or
… got over the clouds …)

We use above, but not over, to refer to things that are at an upper or higher level:
[a ‘chalet’ is a small wooden building usually found in mountainous areas]
Do they live in that chalet above the village?
Not: Do they live in that chalet over the village?

We usually use above, but not over, when there is no contact between the things referred
to. Over or on top of have a more general meaning, and can be used when one thing touches
or covers another:
They made her comfortable and put a blanket over her.
Not: They made her comfortable and put a blanket above her.

We normally use over not above with numbers:

I get over sixty emails a day.
Not: I get above sixty emails a day.
If you weigh over 100 kilograms, then you may need to start a diet.
Not: If you weigh above 100 kilograms
Warning:
When we talk about temperatures in relation to zero or (the) average, we use above not over:
It was three degrees above zero.
Not: It was three degrees over zero.
 When we refer to temperatures in other contexts, we can normally use above or over:
The temperature is already above 30 degrees. (or … over 30 degrees.)

Typical errors
 We don’t use over to mean ‘higher level’.
Most of the race is 500 metres above sea level.
Not: Most of the race is 500 metres over sea level.
 We don’t use above when one thing touches or covers another.
Pour some cream over the tart and serve it warm.
Not: Pour some cream above the tart
 We don’t use above with numbers.
Over 100 people complained about the programme.
Not: Above 100 people complained