for a total of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a total of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the sum or total of something. For example, "I have $20 in my wallet, and I added $15 more, for a total of $35."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Medicare will pay bonuses totaling $7 million a year, for a total of $21 million.

The New York Times

Its original order was for a total of 140.

The Guardian

The candidates are competing for a total of 228 delegates.

The New York Times

Repeat the process, for a total of four times.

The New York Times - Food

Kisco and Scarsdale for a total of about 150 employees.

The New York Times

The investors were taken for a total of $1 million.

The New York Times

It settled the cases for a total of $120 million.

The New York Times

Ms. Gress suspended Misha for a total of eight days.

The New York Times

Christie's had two sales, for a total of $12.5 million.

The New York Times - Arts

Piaf stayed with her for a total of eight months.

The Guardian - Film

Cook for a total of 16 to 21 minutes.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing technical content such as data analysis report, always double check that all numbers add up to the final sum written after the phrase "for a total of".

Common error

Avoid using "in total" in place of "for a total of" when a specific calculation or aggregation is being presented. "In total" is generally used to state an overall quantity without explicitly showing how it was derived, while using "for a total of" implies an explicit calculation. For example: Incorrect: I spent $10 on gas and $15 on food, in total $25. Correct: I spent $10 on gas and $15 on food, "for a total of" $25.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a total of" functions as a prepositional phrase used to introduce a final sum or quantity. It typically follows a statement of individual components that, when combined, equal the stated total. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

37%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a total of" is a versatile and grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to clearly state the result of a summation or aggregation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly news and academic writing. When you intend to itemize individual components before arriving at a sum, using alternatives such as "amounting to" or "totalling" can add nuance to your writing. Remember to use the right expression in the right contexts in order to have a text with high quality and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amounting to

Replaces "for a total of" by using a participle phrase to indicate the resulting quantity.

totalling

Similar to "amounting to", but uses a different participle form.

with a grand total of

Adds emphasis to the final amount.

summing up to

Uses a verb phrase to express the calculation leading to the final amount.

in aggregate

More formal and emphasizes the combined nature of the total.

altogether

Simpler and more direct way of expressing the total.

the sum being

A more formal, slightly archaic way to introduce the total.

representing a total of

Highlights that the amount is representative of a final calculation.

equaling

Directly states the equivalent final amount.

combined for a total of

Emphasizes the combination of elements leading to the total.

FAQs

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

The phrase "for a total of" is used to indicate the sum or resulting amount after adding or combining different elements. For example, "She spent $10 on groceries and $15 on household items, for a total of $25."

What are some alternatives to using "for a total of"?

You can use alternatives like "amounting to", "totalling", or "with a grand total of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in total" instead of "for a total of"?

While "in total" can indicate a sum, it's not always interchangeable with "for a total of". "For a total of" is often used when you've just listed the components that make up the sum. "In total" is a general statement of quantity. It would be incorrect to say I spent $10 on gas and $15 on food, in total $25. The correct way would be to use the phrase "for a total of".

When should I use "for a total of" versus "in total"?

"For a total of" is best when you've provided the individual components that add up to the total. "In total" is more general and doesn't require you to list the components. For example, "The bill came to $25 in total." is correct, but less appropriate if you've just listed the prices of individual items.