Total outlay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Total outlay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in financial contexts to refer to the total amount of money spent or invested in a project or activity. Example: "The total outlay for the new marketing campaign exceeded our initial budget projections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

Total outlay: $90.

Forbes

Total outlay for four trips: $36.60 for a combined 75 minutes of travel.

Los Angeles Times

The total outlay has been less than £7m.

The Guardian - Sport

"I just wanted to buy extra," she said, estimating her total outlay at about $100.

The Guardian - Music

Asked if the total outlay would break $2,000, Mr. Reid said, "Maybe..

The New York Times

If Rojo, Di María and Blind were landed, United's total outlay would be more than £80m.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

From 2000 to 2009 spending on drugs grew at a slightly slower pace than total outlays on health.

The Economist

Several categories of spending are expected to decline this year, both in total dollars and percentage of total outlays, including building maintenance and school safety.

The New York Times

The fund's own operating costs ate up 40 to 50percentt of total outlays, whereas investment funds in developed markets usually spend only 2to4percentent.

The New York Times

Similarly, spending on imported consumer goods and services as a percentage of total outlays stands at 12percenttodayay, up from 7percentt in 1990 and 4percentt in 1980.

The New York Times

Medicare spent $146 million on Camptosar last year, according to the spokeswoman, who did not have information on total outlays for the other drugs under review.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing project budgets or financial reports, use "total outlay" to clearly indicate the initial investment or expenditure. For instance, "The total outlay for the renovation project was significantly higher than anticipated."

Common error

Avoid using "total outlay" when you actually mean the final result or outcome of an investment. "Outlay" refers specifically to the initial expenditure, not the return on investment or the final product.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total outlay" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It identifies the complete sum of money spent on a particular endeavor, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total outlay" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to the entire sum of money spent on something. It's grammatically sound and widely accepted, as Ludwig AI confirms. Predominantly found in news and media, and professional contexts, it serves to clearly convey the overall financial commitment. While alternatives like "total expenditure" and "overall cost" exist, "total outlay" effectively highlights the initial investment. When writing, use "total outlay" to clearly indicate the initial expenditure or investment made, being careful not to confuse it with the outcome or final result of the investment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Total expenditure

Replaces "outlay" with "expenditure", emphasizing the act of spending.

Overall cost

Substitutes "outlay" with "cost", focusing on the financial burden.

Total cost

Directly replaces "outlay" with the word "cost".

Total expenses

Replaces "outlay" with "expenses", focusing on detailed spendings.

Full cost

Focuses on completeness of cost, rather than initial spending.

Total investment

Replaces "outlay" focusing on funds used for future returns.

Complete expenditure

Highlights the comprehensive nature of spending.

Global cost

Implies total cost worldwide.

Final bill

Emphasizes the concluding amount due.

Grand total

Highlights the sum of all costs.

FAQs

How can I use "total outlay" in a sentence?

You can use "total outlay" to refer to the total amount of money spent or invested in something. For example, "The "total outlay" for the project was $1 million."

What is a good synonym for "total outlay"?

A good synonym for "total outlay" is "total expenditure". Other alternatives include "overall cost" or "total cost".

Is "total outlay" formal or informal language?

"Total outlay" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly found in financial and business settings.

What's the difference between "total outlay" and "total cost"?

While similar, "total outlay" often implies the initial investment or expenditure, whereas "total cost" can encompass all costs, including maintenance, operational expenses, and other related fees over time.