for the sum of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for the sum of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in financial or mathematical contexts to indicate a total amount or value. Example: "The total cost for the sum of all items purchased came to $150."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Two delegates from Kenya and Uganda changed their votes for the sum of $35,000 each.

The New York Times - Sports

Eventually Stoke agreed to transfer him to Blackpool, for the sum of £11,500.

The Guardian - Sport

The target should have been for the sum of money raised – in billions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Vincent Astor bought the hotel for the sum of $5,090,000.

The New Yorker

He was finally persuaded to move "Hellzapoppin' " -- for the sum of $50,000, paid by Mr. Merrick.

The New York Times

A recent review of eBay Motors showed one Lanos among recent sales — for the sum of $515.

The New York Times

Otherwise, write a grant proposal to your university for the sum of $1.79 (the cost of 100 pushpins at Staples).

The New York Times

The company has laid out another option, of selling the business to the unions for the sum of one peso.

The Economist

4. Derive the formula for the sum of a finite geometric series and use the formula to solve problems.

The New York Times

A sample fourth-grade question: "Use Xs to draw an array for the sum of 4+4+4".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Jaberipour and Khorram (2010) proposed algorithm for the sum-of-ratios problem-based harmony search algorithm.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for the sum of" in financial contexts, ensure that the units of currency are clearly specified (e.g., "for the sum of $5,000 USD").

Common error

Be precise about what items are included in the summation to avoid misinterpretation. If some values are excluded or if the summation refers only to a subset of items, clarify this explicitly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the sum of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, typically indicating the total amount or value resulting from adding several items together. It introduces a numerical quantity or monetary amount.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for the sum of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase, particularly in news, scientific, and financial contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves to specify a total amount or value. While alternatives like "totaling" or "amounting to" offer conciseness, "for the sum of" provides explicitness. Ensuring clarity about the items included in the sum is key to avoiding ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

totaling

This alternative is a concise way to express the action of adding up to a specific amount.

amounting to

This alternative emphasizes the final amount reached after adding several items together.

in total

This option is shorter and works well when emphasizing the overall quantity.

aggregated to

This option is more formal and highlights the process of collecting different elements together.

combined value of

This phrase is useful when referring to a value obtained by merging multiple values.

with a combined cost of

This is used to specifically point out that the accumulation is based on cost.

with an aggregate of

This alternative offers a more statistical or technical connotation.

when added up comes to

This alternative focuses on the process of summing and reaching a result.

with a grand total of

This option is used to express a final calculation or a concluding amount.

for a combined figure of

This is suitable when you want to specify the combined or joint number.

FAQs

How can I use "for the sum of" in a sentence?

You can use "for the sum of" to indicate a total amount, such as "The company was sold "for the sum of" $1 million".

What are some alternatives to "for the sum of"?

Some alternatives include "totaling", "amounting to", or "in total", depending on the context.

Is it better to use "for the sum of" or "totaling"?

Both "for the sum of" and "totaling" are correct. "For the sum of" is more formal and explicit, while totaling is more concise.

What's the difference between "for the sum of" and "in total"?

"For the sum of" is used to introduce the total amount after adding specific items, while "in total" simply states the overall quantity.