almost the total

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost the total" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a quantity or amount that is very close to being complete or whole, but not quite there. Example: "The project is almost the total cost we estimated, but we still need to account for some additional expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

That represents almost the total of all such investments made in the period covered by the Foundation Center report.

The New York Times

"We are looking at almost the total demise of the companies that have been built up the last two or three years".

The New York Times

The burden is equivalent to the cost of its five national radio stations, or almost the total cost of all its digital TV channels, including BBC3, BBC4 and BBC News Channel.

The Guardian

In some countries, the states sustain their own educational systems, which the federal government then supplements, but, because of the disparity between city and countryside, these federal governments often had to shoulder almost the total burden of rural elementary education.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I did not hear a loud 'Bang!'... Actually, it was almost the total opposite... like, all sound shut down, as if I was deeply, deeply, deeply underwater, so the hearing was all muffled.

Independent

"Almost the total focus on where the flight to quality is coming from is Europe," said Kevin H. Giddis, the executive managing director and president for fixed-income capital markets at Morgan Keegan & Company.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

That was almost twice the total from the previous four-year period.

The New York Times - Sports

The company's pension deficit outside the United States accounted for almost half the total shortfall in 2002.

The New York Times

Almost all the total for last year – £43.7bn – was in the private sector with few bonuses in the public sector.

The Guardian - Business

Almost half the total passengers, 68 million, travelled through Heathrow, 33 million used Gatwick and 22 million Stansted.

The Guardian - Business

Almost overnight the total volume of spam that was Rustock's specialty collapsed.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost the total", ensure that the context clarifies what the remaining, non-total portion consists of. This provides a more complete picture and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "almost the total" when the remaining amount is significant or relevant. This phrase suggests near completion, so ensure the difference is negligible to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost the total" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a quantity or extent that is close to being complete. This implies a near-complete state, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples where it describes amounts close to a final sum.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

38%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost the total" is a grammatically sound and common phrase used to express that a quantity is close to complete, though not fully so. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and offers diverse examples from News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias, indicating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clarifies what constitutes the remaining portion to avoid any ambiguity. Alternatives such as "nearly the entire amount" or "practically the whole" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly the entire amount

Replaces "almost" with "nearly" and "total" with "entire amount", emphasizing the closeness to the whole quantity.

practically the whole

Uses "practically" instead of "almost" and "whole" instead of "total", highlighting the functional completeness.

virtually the complete sum

Substitutes "almost" with "virtually" and "total" with "complete sum", suggesting a negligible difference from the full amount.

close to the full quantity

Replaces the phrase with a more descriptive expression, focusing on the proximity to the full quantity.

in the vicinity of the aggregate

Uses more formal language, replacing "almost" with "in the vicinity of" and "total" with "aggregate", suitable for technical contexts.

approaching the entirety

Emphasizes the process of reaching the total, replacing "almost" with "approaching" and "total" with "entirety".

nearing the complete value

Focuses on the value, using "nearing" instead of "almost" and "complete value" instead of "total".

substantially the sum total

Replaces "almost" with "substantially", indicating a significant portion of the sum total is present.

effectively the overall sum

Uses "effectively" to convey that the result is practically the same as the overall sum, despite minor differences.

largely the collective amount

Replaces "almost" with "largely" and "total" with "collective amount", emphasizing the significant portion of the whole.

FAQs

How can I use "almost the total" in a sentence?

You can use "almost the total" to indicate that a quantity or amount is very close to being complete or whole. For example, "The fundraising campaign reached almost the total goal, with only $100 remaining."

What phrases are similar to "almost the total"?

Similar phrases include "nearly the entire amount", "practically the whole", or "virtually the complete sum". Each emphasizes a slight variation in completeness.

Is there a difference between "almost the total" and "exactly the total"?

"Almost the total" indicates a near-complete quantity, while "exactly the total" implies that the quantity is complete and precise. The difference lies in whether something is slightly less than the full amount versus being the full amount.

When is it inappropriate to use "almost the total"?

It's inappropriate to use "almost the total" if the remaining portion is significant enough to alter the overall outcome or perception. In such cases, using a more precise descriptor may be more accurate.