a total time of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a total time of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a length of time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc. For example, "It took a total time of 10 minutes to complete the task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Shiffrin, 18, finished with a total time of 1 44.54 at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center.

The Guardian - Sport

Armstrong now leads with a total time of 13 hours 22 minutes 55 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

Continue stirring until the porridge has been cooking for a total time of 5 minutes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mo Tae-bum of South Korea won the gold with a total time of 1 minute 9.82 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

In this example the longest, or "critical," path is A C F H, requiring a total time of 11 weeks.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Miller won the downhill portion of the event and, combined with his slalom run, he finished with a total time of 2 minutes 34.58 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

And then to extend it again to almost a full second (0.97) on her fourth, finishing with a total time of 3.52.89.

The Guardian - Sport

Previously, travelers had to go first to Marseille for a change of train and a total time of about five hours.

The New York Times - Travel

Maier, who finished the two-leg race with a total time of 2 minutes 16.89 seconds, was 1.1 seconds ahead of his teammate Stefan Eberharter.

The New York Times - Sports

"I haven't been thinking about other people's expectations at all," said Yarnold, after recording a total time of 1min 56.89sec in her first two runs.

The Guardian - Sport

Ivica had a total time of 1 minute 44.71 seconds on a rutted course to pad his lead in the slalom standing.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the duration of an activity or event, use "a total time of" to clearly indicate the entire time spent, avoiding ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a total time of" without specifying what activity or process the time refers to. Always provide clear context to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a total time of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying the duration of an event or activity. It indicates the overall length of time, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a total time of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to clearly indicate the duration of an event or activity. According to Ludwig, it serves to provide precise information, making it suitable for neutral to formal contexts, especially in news, media, and scientific writing. When writing, it's best to specify the activity being timed to avoid confusion, and to favor the shorter form over redundant variations like "a total time period of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

total elapsed time of

Specifically refers to the time that has passed between a start and end point.

entire duration of

Underscores the wholeness of the time period.

total period of

A more concise way of expressing the overall timeframe.

overall duration of

Focuses on the entire length of an event or process.

cumulative period of

Emphasizes the accumulated time over multiple instances or segments.

complete timeframe of

Stresses the entire period within which something occurs.

aggregate span of

Highlights the combined extent of time.

combined length of time of

Explicitly mentions the combination of multiple time segments.

overall timing of

Highlights the scheduling and coordination aspects related to time.

sum total of time of

Emphasizes that all segments of time are added together.

FAQs

How can I use "a total time of" in a sentence?

Use "a total time of" to specify the complete duration of an activity. For example, "The experiment ran for "a total time of" 24 hours."

What's a good alternative to "a total time of"?

Alternatives include "overall duration of", "total elapsed time of", or "entire duration of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "a total time period of"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "a total time period of" can be redundant. Using ""a total time of"" is often sufficient and more concise.

How does "a total time of" differ from "average time of"?

"A total time of" refers to the complete duration, whereas "average time of" indicates the mean duration across multiple instances or trials.