amounting to just

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "amounting to just" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a total or sum that is relatively small or insignificant in comparison to something larger. Example: "The total cost of the project amounted to just $500, which was much lower than we had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Bolsa Familia is also remarkably cost effective, amounting to just 0.5% of GDP.

The Guardian

As a result he received various sums amounting to just over £414,000.

The Guardian

I know of one case where a homeowner stood to lose £800,000 equity in their own home because of a dispute amounting to just £9,000.

Independent

Yet the government's recent boost, amounting to just 0.25% of GDP, hardly suggested urgency.Plainly, not all countries can afford precisely the same dose of fiscal stimulus.

The Economist

With tax revenue amounting to just 24% of GDP, America was one of the most lightly taxed countries in the rich world.

The Economist

Broadcast and cable television networks devote only minimal attention to public service advertising, a study concluded, amounting to just 0.4percentt of all air time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

But potato exports amount to just $500,000.

The Economist

That amounts to just under $5,000 per head.

The Economist

The EU budget, by contrast, amounts to just 1%.

The Economist

Instead, first-year revenue amounted to just $7.5 million.

The New York Times

All of that amounts to just the hors d'oeuvres.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "amounting to just" to underscore a surprisingly small quantity, especially when contrasting it with an expected or larger value. For example, "Despite the extensive damage, the insurance payout was amounting to just $500."

Common error

While "amounting to just" is acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral phrases like "totaling" or "equaling" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "amounting to just" functions as a prepositional phrase that quantifies a total, emphasizing its small or insignificant size relative to some expectation or standard. Ludwig AI confirms that the usage is correct and provides various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "amounting to just" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that emphasizes a surprisingly small quantity or total. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and widespread use across various domains. While its neutral register makes it suitable for general writing, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context highlights a contrast between the actual amount and a larger expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

totaling merely

Emphasizes the smallness of the total sum.

adding up to only

Focuses on the act of summation and the limited result.

equaling a mere

Uses "equaling" to highlight the equivalent small amount.

representing a paltry

Emphasizes insignificance using "paltry".

constituting a small

Highlights the component and its modest size.

only reaching

Focuses on the limit achieved.

limited to only

Highlights the restriction or limit imposed.

restricted to a scarce

Emphasizes the scarcity of the final amount.

a fraction of

Indicates that the amount is a small portion of a larger whole.

a small percentage of

Explicitly states the amount as a small percentage.

FAQs

How can I use "amounting to just" in a sentence?

Use "amounting to just" to emphasize that a total or sum is surprisingly small, especially when compared to an expectation. For example, "After all expenses, the profit for the month was amounting to just $100."

What are some alternatives to "amounting to just"?

You can use alternatives like "totaling merely", "adding up to only", or "equaling a mere" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "amounting to just" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, using alternatives such as "totaling" or "equaling" might be more suitable for maintaining a professional tone in formal contexts.

What's the difference between "amounting to just" and "amounting to almost"?

"Amounting to just" emphasizes a surprisingly small quantity, while "amounting to almost" indicates a quantity that nearly reaches a certain amount.