an overall total of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overall total of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when summarizing or presenting a cumulative amount or figure in a report or analysis. Example: "The project resulted in an overall total of 500 completed tasks by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The four players on court must have an overall total of eight points or fewer.

The Guardian - Sport

Om Yun-Chol of North Korea won gold in the men's 56kg weightlifting category, lifting an overall total of 293kg.

The Guardian - Sport

After the break, though, it was a very different story, despite an overall total of 13 turnovers conceded.

The Guardian - Sport

Mark Green, the city's public advocate, reported raising $870,000 for the period, for an overall total of $4.3 million.

The New York Times

The Englishman, who won the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa earlier this month, carded a final-round 69 for an overall total of 266, 22 under par.

The Guardian - Sport

We'll get you the ball back.' " And when the defense got the ball back, Barber ran with it and caught it for an overall total of 276 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

She made mistakes on her next two jumps, but her spins and triple-triple gave her an overall total of 59.31 points.

The New York Times

The Burnt Orange Report gives the early vote totals for little Gillespie County, tucked in the Texas hill country, which has an overall total of 16,976 registered voters.

The New York Times

Ultimately bought by a local citizen, the business lasted in the same community until 2009, and an overall total of nearly 70 years.

The New York Times

Each row produces about 60 tons of compost, for an overall total of some 75,000 tons a year that the company sells to customers like landscapers for about $20 a ton, Mr. Widell said.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, based on the median estimates for the cities, I arrived at an overall total of about 70,000 protesters who were documented as having been active on Saturday throughout the United States.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an overall total of", ensure that the context clearly defines what elements are being summed up to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrases like "the overall total total" which is redundant. Choose either "overall total" or simply "total" depending on the context for conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overall total of" functions as a quantifier preceding a numerical value. It specifies that the number represents the final sum or accumulation of multiple individual values. Ludwig examples show its use across diverse contexts, confirming its role in presenting aggregate figures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an overall total of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression for presenting a summary or cumulative amount. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a quantifier, specifying the final sum after an accumulation. Predominantly found in scientific and news media contexts, with strong presence in business and formal writing, the phrase conveys a sense of consolidated figures. When using "an overall total of", ensure clarity regarding the elements being summed to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "combined total of" or "grand total" offer subtle variations in emphasis, while avoiding redundancy in phrases like "the overall total total" enhances conciseness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overall sum

This alternative is a shorter version using "sum" instead of "total".

combined total of

This alternative emphasizes the act of bringing individual amounts together.

aggregate sum of

This alternative emphasizes the collection of different elements into a unified sum.

grand total

This alternative emphasizes the finality and impressiveness of the total.

total aggregate of

This alternative emphasizes the combined amount resulting from an accumulation.

total figure of

This alternative uses a more formal term for the overall amount.

complete sum of

This alternative stresses the completeness of the sum being considered.

cumulative amount of

This alternative highlights the incremental nature of the accumulation.

final tally of

This alternative implies the completion of a counting process.

total reckoning of

This alternative conveys a sense of comprehensive calculation.

FAQs

How can I use "an overall total of" in a sentence?

You can use "an overall total of" to summarize a cumulative amount, as in "The project's expenses reached "an overall total of" $1 million".

What's a good alternative to "an overall total of"?

Alternatives include "combined total of", "grand total", or "cumulative amount of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "an overall total of" or "the total"?

"An overall total of" is generally considered slightly more formal than simply "the total", but both are acceptable in most contexts. The choice depends on the desired level of formality.

What is the difference between "an overall total of" and "a combined total of"?

"An overall total of" refers to the final sum after considering all elements, while "a combined total of" specifically emphasizes the act of bringing separate elements together to reach that sum.