from a total of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from a total of" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to indicate a subset of a larger group or total. Here is an example sentence: "From a total of 100 applicants, only 25 were selected for the scholarship program."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The last World Cup saw the participation of 83 oriundi from a total of 736 players.

The Guardian - Sport

Organizers have said that about three million tickets remain unsold from a total of 5.3 million.

The New York Times - Sports

In 2002, it raised more than $10 million from a total of 9,000 members.

The New York Times

Threads won four Bafta awards from a total of seven nominations.

The Guardian - Books

That's a decline from a total of 900,000 workers in the mid-'90s.

The New York Times

We collected seed from a total of 94 mother trees.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

From a total of 42 studied patients, 22 were excluded.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Statistical data were derived from a total of 60 devices.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The company raised the current round from a total of 300 investors spanning 19 countries.  .

TechCrunch

The company received complaints from a total of 85 parents in Nippon.

TechCrunch

The spectra originated from a total of 785 partial milkings out of 84 composite milkings.

Journal of Dairy Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid redundancy by ensuring the "total" being referred to is clearly established within the surrounding text or context.

Common error

Avoid using "from a total of" when the total number is unknown or irrelevant, which can make the statement confusing and less impactful. Instead, provide the exact quantities without it, to improve clarity for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from a total of" functions as a prepositional phrase. It introduces information about the origin or quantity of something, specifying it as part of a larger whole. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase consistently precedes a numerical value indicating the total quantity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "from a total of" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that a specific quantity or subset originates from a larger, defined group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse sources, including science, news, and business. It's best used when specifying proportions or selections, maintaining clarity by referencing a known total. Related phrases like "out of a total of" offer subtle variations in emphasis. Be careful not to use it when the total is unknown or irrelevant to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

out of a total of

Emphasizes the selection or proportion relative to the whole, similar to the original phrase.

from an aggregate of

Replaces "total" with "aggregate", highlighting the collection of individual units into a sum.

derived from a sum of

Uses "derived" to indicate origin and "sum" instead of "total", changing the emphasis slightly.

selected from a pool of

Highlights the act of choosing from a larger group, adding a sense of selection.

taken from an overall of

Replaces "total" with "overall", subtly shifting the focus to the comprehensive nature of the whole.

representing a portion of

Indicates that the item represents some portion of the whole.

a subset of a complete set of

Uses formal language indicating a full set.

originating from a quantity of

Uses "originating" to describe the start of the sample.

constituting a fragment of

Emphasizes a partial or incomplete amount of.

drawn from a collection of

Emphasizes the action of drawing a small sample.

FAQs

How do I use "from a total of" in a sentence?

Use "from a total of" to specify a subset or quantity taken from a larger, known quantity. For example, "From a total of 100 applicants, only 20 were selected".

What are some alternatives to "from a total of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "out of a total of", "taken from an overall of", or "a subset of a complete set of", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to use "from a total of"?

While generally acceptable, ensure the "total" is necessary for context. In some cases, simply stating the smaller quantity might be sufficient if the overall number is implied or previously stated.

What is the grammatical function of "from a total of"?

The phrase "from a total of" acts as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun by specifying its origin or quantity relative to a larger group. It helps to define a subset or a selection within a defined whole.