added up

USAGE SUMMARY

"added up" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means that something has been summed or calculated correctly, or that all the pieces or information have been considered together. Example: "After I added up all my expenses, I realized I needed to cut back on my spending." This sentence means that the speaker calculated their expenses and came to the conclusion that they needed to spend less. Another example: "The evidence didn't seem to add up, so the detective decided to investigate further." In this sentence, "add up" means that the information or evidence didn't seem to make sense or fit together, prompting the detective to investigate more deeply.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The gifts added up.

The New Yorker

It added up to devastation.

The New York Times

Nothing added up.

The New Yorker

It added up to one thing.

The New York Times

"But the problems just added up".

The New York Times

It all added up to just enough.

The New York Times

Sales added up to £4.52 million.

The New York Times - Arts

They added up to nothing, she said.

The New Yorker

It added up to a sloppy dish.

The New York Times

What has it all added up to?

The New York Times

That added up to a crunch".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "added up" to describe situations where multiple factors contribute to a final outcome or understanding. For instance, "The stress of the job, combined with lack of sleep, all added up to a serious health problem."

Common error

Avoid using "added up" when you actually mean "summed up". "Added up" implies a process of accumulation that leads to a result, whereas "summed up" is used when someone is summarizing or recapping information. Don't say, "He added up the meeting by saying…" Instead, use "He summed up the meeting…".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "added up" primarily functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the process of accumulating or summing up multiple elements to reach a final result. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase indicates that pieces of information have been considered together.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

23%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "added up" is a commonly used phrasal verb that indicates accumulating elements to reach a total or understanding a situation based on combined factors, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and versatile, fitting neutral registers, and is frequently found in news, media, scientific and academic contexts. To enhance your writing, use "added up" when detailing how factors combine to form a final outcome. Be mindful of the difference between "added up" (accumulation leading to a result) and "summed up" (summarizing information) to avoid common errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amounted to

Focuses on the total sum or quantity reached after combining elements.

totaled

Emphasizes the calculation of a sum or aggregate value.

came to

Indicates a final result or conclusion after a process of accumulation or reasoning.

made sense

Highlights the logical coherence or intelligibility of a situation or explanation.

resulted in

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of a series of events or actions.

aggregated to

Stresses the process of combining separate items into a collective whole.

equaled

Denotes the equivalence or sameness of two quantities or values.

coalesced into

Implies the merging or combining of different elements into a unified entity.

computed to

Focuses on the calculation and determination of a value or quantity.

constituted

Highlights the composition or formation of something from individual parts.

FAQs

How can I use "added up" in a sentence?

You can use "added up" to describe a final result after accumulating multiple items, or when something logically makes sense. For example, "The expenses added up to more than we expected," or "His explanation didn't "add up", so we remained suspicious".

What's the difference between "added up" and "amounted to"?

"Added up" often refers to a literal or figurative summing of individual components, while "amounted to" typically describes a final total or outcome. "The bills added up to $500" versus "His efforts "amounted to" nothing".

What are some alternatives to "added up"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "totaled", "came to", or "resulted in". For instance, "The costs added up to a significant amount" could be replaced with "The costs "totaled" a significant amount" or "The costs "came to" a significant amount".

When is it appropriate to use "added up" in formal writing?

The phrase "added up" can be used in formal writing, especially when describing a quantitative result or a logical conclusion based on accumulated evidence. However, for very formal or technical contexts, consider alternatives like "aggregated to" or "totaled" for a more professional tone.