keep a tally of something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keep a tally of something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of counting or recording the number of occurrences of something over time. Example: "During the event, we will keep a tally of the number of attendees to ensure we have enough seating."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Other bones are marked with notches, as if they were used to keep a tally of something.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They also keep a tally of sacks.

The New York Times - Sports

My kids like to keep a tally of the number of countries they have visited.

Independent

The Ahmadis maintain thick volumes that keep a tally of the persecution.

The Economist

This included working on a "shopping brain", which shoppers would use to keep a tally of their bills.

The Economist

Two students sell milk each day and keep a tally of how many of their customers say "thank you".

The New York Times

The U.S. government does not keep a tally of Americans who own second or third homes overseas.

The New Yorker

Speaking outside the courthouse, retiree Suzanne Mancha said: "I keep a tally of all the promises these people make.

The Guardian

All hospitals in Northern Ireland have to keep a tally of the number of terminations - but they do not record the reason they were carried out.

BBC

"We'd keep a tally of the winners throughout the season and whoever lost would have to take each other and our wives out for dinner.

BBC

You can automatically split bills equally between people in your address book and keep a tally of who owes whom what.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep a tally of something", be specific about what you are counting or recording. For example, instead of just saying "keep a tally", specify "keep a tally of expenses" or "keep a tally of customer feedback".

Common error

Avoid using "keep a tally of something" in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound too casual. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "maintain a record of" or "systematically document".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep a tally of something" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of counting or recording instances of a particular item or event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English. The phrase serves to enumerate and document occurrences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

16%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "keep a tally of something" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that signifies the act of counting or recording instances of an item or event. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English, noting that it's suitable for tracking and enumerating occurrences. While generally neutral in register, it's most frequently found in news and media sources, as well as in Wiki-based content. Alternatives like "maintain a record of" or "keep track of" offer similar meanings but may be more appropriate in formal contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly is being counted or recorded.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep count of something

Synonymous, but puts more emphasis on the counting aspect rather than the overall record-keeping.

keep track of something

Emphasizes the act of staying informed about something over time.

maintain a record of something

Replaces "keep a tally" with "maintain a record", suggesting a more formal and detailed tracking.

track something

A more concise alternative, focusing on the act of following progress or changes.

monitor something

Implies a continuous observation and recording of something's status or changes.

log something

Suggests a systematic recording of events or data.

chart something

Implies visually representing the data, often graphically.

document something

Focuses on creating a detailed written record of events or information.

register something

Suggests officially recording something in a formal system.

take stock of something

Implies assessing the current situation by counting or evaluating resources.

FAQs

How can I use "keep a tally of something" in a sentence?

You can use "keep a tally of something" to describe the act of counting or recording instances of something. For example, "The researcher decided to "keep a tally of" the number of times the word 'innovation' was used in the interviews."

What is a more formal alternative to "keep a tally of something"?

If you're looking for a more formal alternative, consider using phrases like "maintain a record of", "systematically document", or "meticulously track" instead of ""keep a tally of"".

Is "keep a tally on something" grammatically correct?

No, the correct phrase is ""keep a tally of" something". Using "on" instead of "of" is a common mistake.

What's the difference between "keep track of" and "keep a tally of"?

"Keep track of" implies staying informed about something over time, while ""keep a tally of"" specifically refers to counting and recording instances of something. For example, you might "keep track of" a project's progress, but "keep a tally of" the number of tasks completed.