a lower sum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lower sum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing amounts of money or numerical values that are less than another specified amount. Example: "After reviewing the budget, we decided to allocate a lower sum for the marketing campaign this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

They will, at most, count 50% of the bonus for mortgage purposes, which means borrowers are offered a lower sum.

The Guardian - Money

Asked if the UK would eventually cough up, he suggested that a lower sum could be acceptable.

The Guardian

The deal offers access to about 60,000 orders per week or £350m of new online business out of the Erith distribution centre by 2020 for a lower sum, although the details were not revealed on Tuesday.

The Guardian - Business

After a four-hour meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels, Mr Osborne hailed an agreement which he said meant the UK would pay a lower sum in two interest-free instalments in July and September 2015.

BBC

One government source told BBC Newsnight that the cost to Haringey Council could be as high as £600,000, although Ms Shoesmith is expected to receive a lower sum.

BBC

Groupon had always argued that it wasn't guilty because it believed the patents that were in question were too old, and so in July it said it would consider appealing or applying for a lower sum (which it appears to have achieved).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06980.009 The higher SNR present in exposure-filtered frame sums, compared with unfiltered sums containing a lower total exposure, is expected to help in the alignment of smaller particles where the alignment accuracy is significantly limited by the signal generated by the particle.

eLife

Navalny wrote that "without a doubt" the site had already been designed for a much lower sum, leaving an ample margin for kickbacks.

The New Yorker

Yukos' senior management had been negotiating a settlement for a slightly lower sum with the tax authorities, and had claimed to have made significant progress.

The Guardian - Business

The third biggest player, TalkSport-owner UTV Media, offered a significantly lower sum when it was outbid for GMG Radio by Global Radio.

The Guardian

But Mr. Neuborne and others said they would argue for a far lower sum for Mr. Fagan in the Swiss banks case, contending that his contribution was minimal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing financial offers or numerical data, use "a lower sum" to clearly indicate a reduction or decrease in the total amount. For example, 'The renegotiated contract resulted in a lower sum paid for services'.

Common error

Avoid using "a lower sum" when referring to qualities or attributes that cannot be quantified. Instead of saying 'a lower sum of effort', opt for 'less effort' or 'reduced effort'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lower sum" functions as a noun phrase where 'lower' acts as a comparative adjective modifying the noun 'sum'. Ludwig examples indicate this phrase is used to describe a reduced quantity, typically in numerical or monetary contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lower sum" is a grammatically sound phrase employed to denote a reduced quantity, particularly in financial or numerical contexts. Ludwig highlights that while it's not exceedingly common, its usage is correct and can be found across reputable sources such as The Guardian and BBC. The Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. When writing, ensure you're referring to quantifiable attributes and not qualities, and consider alternatives such as "a smaller amount" or "a reduced total" for stylistic variation. By being mindful of context and adhering to best practices, you can effectively use "a lower sum" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a smaller amount

This alternative directly replaces 'sum' with 'amount', indicating a quantity less than another.

a reduced total

This alternative uses 'reduced' to emphasize the action of decreasing, and 'total' as a synonym for 'sum'.

a reduced quantity

This alternative combines 'reduced' and 'quantity' offering a direct synonym for the original phrase.

a diminished quantity

This alternative uses 'diminished' to suggest a lessening or reduction in quantity.

a lesser value

This alternative replaces 'sum' with the more abstract 'value', which can apply to numerical contexts.

a smaller figure

This phrase uses 'figure' to refer to a numerical amount, emphasizing the reduced size.

a lower figure

Another way to directly replace 'sum' with 'figure' indicating a lower number.

a decreased aggregate

This phrase is more formal, using 'decreased' and 'aggregate' to indicate a reduction in the total.

a curtailed amount

This option uses 'curtailed' to imply a restriction or reduction in the original amount.

a deflated value

Here, 'deflated' suggests a reduction in value, often in an economic context.

FAQs

How can I use "a lower sum" in a sentence?

You can use "a lower sum" when discussing numerical values or amounts that are less than another specified amount. For instance, "The company settled the lawsuit for "a lower sum" than initially demanded".

What is a synonym for "a lower sum"?

Alternatives to "a lower sum" include "a smaller amount", "a reduced total", or "a lesser value", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a lower sum"?

It's appropriate to use "a lower sum" when you are explicitly comparing two or more quantifiable amounts and indicating that one is smaller or less than the others. It is often used in financial or statistical contexts.

What's the difference between "a lower sum" and "a smaller amount"?

While both "a lower sum" and "a smaller amount" can be used to describe a reduced quantity, "a lower sum" often implies a calculated or aggregated total, whereas "a smaller amount" is more general and can refer to any reduced quantity.