a sum of four

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a sum of four" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in mathematical contexts or discussions involving numbers, particularly when referring to the total of four units or items. Example: "When you add two and two, the result is a sum of four."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

Wiki

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Well, we want to expand this into a sum of four terms.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It concerned an inequality that governs a host of questions about the properties of whole numbers, such as which can be expressed as a sum of four perfect squares or nine perfect cubes.

Nature

The Norwegian automobile purchase tax, payable upon first registration of a vehicle, is a sum of four independent components, calculated on the basis of curb weight, ICE power, and type approval CO2 and NOX exhaust emission rates, respectively (Fig. 8).

European Transport Research Review

The Norwegian automobile purchase tax, payable upon first registration of a vehicle, is a sum of four independent components, calculated on the basis of curb weight, ICE power, and type approval CO2 and NOX emission rates, respectively (Fig. 9).

European Transport Research Review

Due to spinor nature of electron wave functions in graphene, the correction (14) to the bare magnetoexciton energy (12) is a sum of four terms, each of them having a form of correction to magnetoexciton energy in usual 2D electron gas [20 22].

Nanoscale Research Letters

Consider the amplitude signal A in the BEPS example written as a sum of four independent components s i (i = 1,…4), with mixing coefficients c i (i = 1,…4), the amplitude is then described by Equation 9: Aleft x, y,;Vright)={c}_1left x, yright){s}_1 V)+dots +{c}_4left x, yright){s}_4 V) (9).

Advanced Structural and Chemical Imaging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The electron molecule interaction is treated as a sum of three terms: electrostatic, exchange, and polarization.

Computer Physics Communications

Both the refolding and unfolding kinetics are best described as a sum of two exponential phases.

Journal of Molecular Biology

It is shown that the stress tensor can be expressed as a sum of two terms.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

It is obviously an addition of two numerals of four digits each resulting in a sum of five digits.

The New Yorker

The relaxation process of the PDL in each age was well described by a sum of three exponential decay functions.

Archives of Oral Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a sum of four", ensure the context clearly indicates what items or values are being added together to reach this total.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a sum of four" always implies simple addition. It could represent a combination of various elements contributing to a final quantity, so always specify the components being summed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a sum of four" functions as a noun phrase, specifically describing a quantity that results from addition or aggregation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

63%

Academia

13%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

News & Media

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a sum of four" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe a total quantity resulting from addition or aggregation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's acceptable across a range of formal and informal contexts, from scientific research to general knowledge. While frequently appearing in scientific and academic materials, it's essential to ensure clarity regarding the components being summed. Alternative phrases like "a total of four" or "four in total" can be used for variety, but it's important to maintain consistency and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a total of four

Replaces "sum" with "total", emphasizing the result of addition.

four in total

Shifts the emphasis to the quantity while maintaining the concept of totality.

four altogether

Indicates a count of four when everything is considered.

the aggregate of four

Uses a more formal term, "aggregate", to denote the combined amount.

a set of four

Emphasizes a collection or group consisting of four items.

an accumulation of four

Focuses on the process of gathering or adding up to reach four.

four units

Focuses on the individual components that make up the total.

a combination of four

Highlights the act of combining elements to achieve a count of four.

the result of adding to four

More explicitly describes the process of arriving at the number four through addition.

a quartet

Refers to a group or set of four, though generally used for things of the same kind.

FAQs

How can I use "a sum of four" in a sentence?

You can use "a sum of four" to describe the result of adding four numbers or combining four quantities, as in "The final score was "a sum of four" goals scored by the team".

What are some alternatives to saying "a sum of four"?

Alternatives include "a total of four", "four in total", or simply stating "the total is four" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a sum of four"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase functions as a noun phrase describing a numerical quantity or result.

When is it appropriate to use "a sum of four" versus just saying "four"?

Use "a sum of four" when you want to emphasize that the quantity is the result of addition or a combination of elements, rather than just a stated number. Saying "four" is appropriate when the source of the number is not relevant.