Under or Below

Under or Below

Both below and under mean lower than. However, below is used when one thing is not under something else whereas under is used when something is covered by what is over it.

E.g.

Your assignment is below par today.

Or, She wore a thermal vest under her shirt to keep warm

Also, in temperature and height measurements, below is used.

E.g.

The day temperature dipped below the maximum temperature recorded yesterday.

Or, His height is just below five feet.

When we mean less than or younger than, under is used.

E.g.

There were under fifty participants for the seminar, whereas we had made arrangements for over a 100.

Or, He is under 18 and cannot get a driving licence.

Test your understanding - Choose the correct sentence from the pair of sentences given below

1.
a. All the cutlery is in a small box inside a cupboard under the gas range.
b. All the cutlery is in a small box inside a cupboard below the gas range.

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2.
a. There were under a hundred delegates for the conference, whereas we had made arrangements for over a 200.
b. There were below a hundred delegates for the conference, whereas we had made arrangements for over a 200.

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3.
a. Priya thought that it was dangerous for her father to be under the tree in the storm.
b.Priya thought that it was dangerous for her father to be below the tree in the storm.

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4.
a. The ball slid below the outstretched bat, went on to hit the wicket and the batsman was out.
b.The ball slid under the outstretched bat, went on to hit the wicket and the batsman was out.

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5.
a. The temperature of Manitoba in Canada remains below 5 degrees Centigrade throughout the year.
a. The temperature of Manitoba in Canada remains under 5 degrees Centigrade throughout the year.

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