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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a total surface of
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a total surface of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing measurements or calculations related to the area of a surface in various contexts, such as mathematics, architecture, or design. Example: "The new building has a total surface of 2,500 square meters, providing ample space for various activities."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Encyclopedias
Wiki
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
23 human-written examples
The parachute has a total surface of ninety square mètres and weighs eight kilos.
News & Media
A total surface of 100 ha in the Luxembourgish watershed is estimated to be devoted to this crop.
The total number of RPC units to be installed is 1088, covering a total surface of about 3500m2.
Table 1 displays the specifications of each of the 90 SILCIO SE220 photovoltaic panels used by the PV park, which have a total surface of 150 m2.
The 170 baffles with 25 variants and 162 heat shield modules with 85 variants comprise a total surface of 33 m2 and 51 m2, respectively.
A total surface of about 150 m2of the forward regions of the Muon Spectrometer will be equipped with 8 layers of MM modules.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
37 human-written examples
A total surface area of 648.42 microporeropore area of 578.64 microporeropore volume of 0.218 cm3/g and average pore size 9.048 Å were obtained.
Science
The column is 7.4m high, consisting of 622 stacked sheets of glass (a total surface area of 954m2), weighing 28.6 tonnes.
Wiki
The GI tract, with its epithelial barrier consisting of a total surface area of approximately 200 m, is man's most widely exposed organ system to the external environment.
The membrane pilot plant consisted of NF modules with a total surface area of 5.2 m2, and photo-Fenton was run in a solar pilot plant (total surface of solar collectors 3 m2, total volume of the plant 35 L) with an iron complexing agent at low iron (<0.2 mM) and H2O2 (<2 mM) concentrations.
Science
The human brain comprises over 100 billion capillaries with a total length of 400 miles, a total surface area of 20 m2 and a median inter-capillary distance of about 50 μm, making it the best perfused organ in the body.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing areas in technical contexts, always specify the units of measurement (e.g., square meters, square kilometers) to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity.
Common error
Be mindful that "surface" refers to the outer boundary of an object, while "area" is the measurement of that surface. Avoid phrases like "a total surface area" as it can be redundant; using either "total surface" or "total area" is usually sufficient.
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a total surface of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun by specifying its overall area. As shown by Ludwig, it usually introduces a measurement or quantity that represents the complete extent of a surface.
Frequent in
Science
70%
News & Media
15%
Encyclopedias
10%
Less common in
Wiki
5%
Formal & Business
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "a total surface of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase to specify the complete area of something. Ludwig AI indicates that it's most commonly found in scientific and technical contexts, as well as in news and media. While seemingly interchangeable with "a total area of", "a total surface of" places a slight emphasis on the external boundary. When using this phrase, it's important to specify the units of measurement for clarity.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
an overall area of
Focuses on the general extent covered.
a complete area of
Emphasizes the entirety of the space.
a total area spanning
Highlights the action of covering a certain area.
a combined surface area of
Implies multiple surfaces contributing to the total.
the aggregate area of
Uses a more formal term for the sum of areas.
the sum total area of
Emphasizes the calculation of the total.
an expanse covering
Highlights the expansive nature of the surface.
the entire surface measuring
Specifies that the whole surface is being considered.
the cumulative area reaching
Suggests a gradual accumulation of area.
a global extent of
Implies a worldwide scale or scope.
FAQs
How do I use "a total surface of" in a sentence?
Use "a total surface of" to describe the overall area of something. For example, "The solar panels have "a total surface of" 100 square meters."
What's the difference between "a total surface of" and "a total area of"?
While similar, "a total surface of" emphasizes the external boundary, whereas "a total area of" focuses on the measurement. They are often interchangeable, but consider the context. Use "a total area of" when discussing measurement and "a total surface of" when referring to the external face.
Can I use "overall" instead of "total" in "a total surface of"?
Yes, using "overall" is a valid alternative. You could say "an "overall surface of"" to mean the same thing.
What are common units of measurement used with "a total surface of"?
Common units include square meters (m²), square kilometers (km²), square feet (ft²), and square miles. Always specify the units to avoid confusion.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested