a total of between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a total of between" is not correct and does not work in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly because "total" implies a single amount, while "between" suggests a range of amounts. Example: "The project requires a total of between 10 and 20 participants."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

A freedom of information request reveals that there are indeed families on benefits living in mansions and receiving almost £2,000 a week – a total of between five and 14 in the whole of the country.

The Guardian

To avoid dangerous levels of climate change, beyond 2C, the world can only emit a total of between 800 and 880 gigatonnes of carbon.

The Guardian

While still somewhat speculative, the science-based methods suggest a total of between 700,000 and one million "excess deaths" to date resulting from the war.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Scores above 80 are ranked as "great," and a total of between 50 and 80 is "good". Testers who score below 50 could benefit from a productivity tutorial.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

There are about 12,000 allied troops in Iraq now, and Pentagon officials say that more than 30 countries have pledged a total of between 20,000 and 30,000 troops to replace them.

The New York Times

Last year, in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kanat interviewed a half dozen Uighur captives who had been fighting alongside the Taliban; he estimated that a total of between six and seven hundred Uighurs had been involved.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Olin faculty receive more competitively awarded funding, per capita, than most other universities: a total of between $1 million and $2 million a year for a faculty of between 35 and 40.

Science Magazine

Shares of Railtrack will cost between L3.5 and L3.9, or a total of between L1.75 billion $2.62 billionn) and L1.95 billion.

The New York Times

The archive is expected to bring in a total of between $300,000 and $500,000.

The New York Times - Arts

The requests waiting to be processed — amounting to a total of between $850 million and $870 million, according to an unnamed official cited by Reuters — were also halted.

The Washington Post

Conrad reported that a total of between $150,000 and $300,000 was shifted out of three mutual funds in his wife's 401(k) retirement account.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conveying an estimated quantity, use "approximately" or "about" instead of the grammatically awkward "a total of between".

Common error

The word "total" implies a single, definitive sum. Avoid pairing it with "between", which suggests a range. Instead, restructure your sentence to clearly indicate whether you're specifying a range or an approximate sum.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a total of between" attempts to quantify a range, but it's grammatically awkward. As Ludwig AI indicates, the word "total" implies a fixed sum, conflicting with the range suggested by "between". The phrase often appears in contexts where a single sum is expected, but an exact figure isn't available.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a total of between" is used to express an approximate quantity within a range, but it is considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the conflict arises because "total" implies a single, fixed sum, while "between" indicates a range. Despite its grammatical issues, the phrase appears commonly in news, scientific, and academic contexts. For clearer and more precise writing, consider using alternatives such as "ranging from", "between...and", or "approximately". The authoritative sources that employ this phrase suggests that it's acceptable in less formal writing, however it should be avoided in strict formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

between...and

Specifies a range but without specifying a total.

estimated to be between

Highlights the estimated nature of the range.

a sum between

It specifies that the total is a sum of different numbers.

ranging from

This phrase emphasizes the range of values, omitting the explicit mention of a total.

in the range of

Highlights the spread of possible values, less focused on the absolute amount.

from...to

It defines a lower and upper limit of a quantity.

amounting to approximately

Combines the idea of a total sum with an approximation.

approximately

Indicates an estimated quantity without a precise range.

about

Indicates an estimated quantity without a precise range.

in total

Emphasizes the sum of a quantity without range.

FAQs

Is "a total of between" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "a total of between" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. "Total" implies a single sum, while "between" suggests a range. It's better to use alternatives like "between X and Y" or "ranging from X to Y".

What can I say instead of "a total of between"?

You can use alternatives like "ranging from", "between...and", or "approximately" depending on the context.

How can I rewrite a sentence using "a total of between" for better clarity?

Instead of "The budget requires a total of between $1000 and $2000", try "The budget requires between $1000 and $2000" or "The budget ranges from $1000 to $2000".

What's the difference between "between...and" and "a total of between"?

"Between...and" correctly indicates a range, while "a total of between" is considered grammatically incorrect because it combines the idea of a fixed sum with a range of values. Use "between...and" to specify a range.