English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
OVERTIME or OVER TIME?
Overtime is time worked in addition to one’s normal working hours and/or an additional period of time that is added to the end of a sports match in which the two teams are level, as a way of allowing one of the teams to win.
There were fewer opportunities for ~over time~ (nonstandard).
There were fewer opportunities for overtime (standard).
They defeated their opponents 3-2 in overtime (standard).
Over time is used to describe something that happens gradually:
Things will get better ~overtime~ (nonstandard).
Things will get better over time (standard).
GAB
