In over a decade

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Davidrock65

#256555 Wed, 16 Aug 06 07:36 PM

I havent seen her in over a decade = I havent seen her over a decade?

Is it correct?

What's in over + time mean ?

Davidrock65

Joined on Wed, Apr 19 2006

taipei

Full Member (237)

Inchoateknowledge

#256556 Wed, 16 Aug 06 07:38 PM

Correct, and means: it is more than ten years since I last saw her.

Inchoateknowledge

Joined on Wed, May 3 2006

Senior Member (2,537)

Beep! Beep! :)

Goodman

#256559 Wed, 16 Aug 06 07:54 PM

Davidrock65 wrote:

I havent seen her in over a decade = I havent seen her over a decade?

Is it correct?

What's in over + time mean ?

I haven't seen her over a decade/ ten years - no [in], this offers a notion of more than 10 yrs.

I haven't seen her in ten years - offers a notion of less than 10 years.

[in] and [over] don't work too well together in this context. Smile [:)]

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,247)

The name says it all!

Inchoateknowledge

#256567 Wed, 16 Aug 06 08:07 PM

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Hi Goodman,

If you do not learn mumbo jumbo, you will not know that "in over" actually works.

[link]

Hi Incho,

PLEASE refrain from posting personal comments and attacks. --RO,Mod.

Inchoateknowledge

Aperisic

#256584 Wed, 16 Aug 06 08:48 PM

Davidrock65 wrote:

I havent seen her in over a decade = I havent seen her over a decade?

Is it correct?

What's in over + time mean ?

A surprise after a period that is slightly over the mentioned one.

The highest in over a decade = The highest in a decade (but the time period is slightly larger than 10 years) => The highest in over a decade.

I haven't seen her in a decade = I did not see her, must be ten years or so (but the time period is slightly larger than 10 years) => I haven't seen her in over a decade.

I haven't seen her in over a decade (is not equal to) I haven't seen her over a decade?

I haven't seen her over a decade? means I did not see her while this decade was passing by. over = during

I haven't seen her over a meeting? = I did not see her during a meeting.

I haven't seen her over a decade implies + and I don't see her these days either

I haven't seen her in over a decade implies + but I do see her today

Aperisic

Joined on Fri, Jul 21 2006

Full Member (409)

Goodman

#256591 Wed, 16 Aug 06 09:20 PM

Inchoateknowledge wrote:

Hi Goodman,

If you do not learn mumbo jumbo, you will not know that "in over" actually works.

[link]

Hi Incho,

PLEASE refrain from posting personal comments and attacks. --RO,Mod.

Google is good for reference but it's not the Bible. It's has both correct and not so correct inforamtion.

Is this one of those cases where something is considered correct because people colloquially or idiomatically keep using it? I don't know! [In ] and [over] seems to me are contradicting each other. If something is in something, how could it be over that something at the same time?

I personally would not use them both next to each other.

BTW, if one keeps running his mouth, he will eventually end up with his feet tangling up in it.

Savor this! Lightning [li]

Goodman

Aperisic

#256602 Wed, 16 Aug 06 09:50 PM

If something is in something, how could it be over that something at the same time?

something is in the period that is over

in over a decade = in + [over a decade] says that something happened that either could easily happen in a decade or what we wanted to happen in a decade or what was very surprising to happen in a decade... but not exactly in a decade, rather a decade and a little bit more

This was the strongest earthquake in over a decade. = This was the strongest earthquake in [over a decade]. This was the strongest earthquake in more than a decade, which says that the last one of similar size happened a little bit more than ten years ago.

It is really used to stress something really high.

[For Google and statistical analyzes of the search results, you have to be close to an expert to confirm whether something is used in the real life usage or not. It is possible and very useful, but it is far far far far far from enough to just search for the phrase. Do not do that if you don't understand the principles. If you want I can give you the examples of how difficult that could be.]

Aperisic

Alienvoord

#256605 Wed, 16 Aug 06 09:59 PM

Whether "in" and "over" contradict each other is beside the point. <img src="/emoticons/emotion-1.gif" alt="Smile [:)]" />

This is OK:

I havent seen her in over a decade.

You can also say:

I havent seen her for over a decade.

They both mean:
It has been more than a decade since I have seen her.

This has a different meaning:

I havent seen her over a decade. = I haven't seen her while the decade was passing by.

Alienvoord

Joined on Tue, Jul 25 2006

Toronto

Full Member (317)

I'm a Canadian English speaker

Goodman

#256625 Wed, 16 Aug 06 11:06 PM

Well, since we already have a lengthy discussion about in and over. I just want to add one more piece then I will zip it.

I am not sure if you all agree with this but this is my interpretation:

I haven’t had a drink in 10 years = Within that time frame, I refrained from drinking

I haven’t had a drink over ten years = I refrained from drinking more than ten years ago. With /without [for] the meaning essentially the same. Again, interpretation could be the difference. I am not saying it’s wrong. I just won’t combine in and over, that’s all. Now I'am zipped!

Goodman

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