on a total of

USAGE SUMMARY

"on a total of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the sum of a number of parts. For example, "The class worked together for 4 hours on a total of 8 different activities."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Poulter fell just short of glory, again, on a total of one over par.

The Guardian - Sport

We measure the query on a total of one million tweets.

Vietnam Journal of Computer Science

One study was conducted on a total of just 18 women.

The Guardian

"I've been on a total of two network shows in nine months," he said.

The New York Times

In all, 4,619 people left Libya for southern Europe in September on a total of 32 boats.

The Guardian

You can read them on a total of six machines, counting Readers that you own and Windows computers.

The New York Times - Tech

This, the report detailed, was based on a total of 839.6 Mt of processed coal being produced and exported.

The Guardian

The speech was broadcast live at 9 p.m. on a total of nine network and cable channels.

The New York Times - Arts

Three other films arrived on a total of 600 screens, none making much of a commercial impact.

The Guardian - Film

There was a mother with three kids in college, who cosigned on a total of $160,000 worth of loans.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The EU has now announced sanctions on a total of 48 individuals.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on a total of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being summed. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the items being included in the total.

Common error

Avoid using "on a total of" when a simpler term like "totalling" or "in total" would suffice. Overuse can make writing seem verbose and less impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a total of" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating the cumulative quantity resulting from the addition of multiple items or values. As supported by Ludwig AI, it serves to explicitly state the final sum.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on a total of" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate the result of a calculation, particularly the summation of multiple items or values. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English. While grammatically sound and widely used, it's important to avoid redundancy and ensure clarity in the context. Alternatives like "amounting to" or "in total" can offer more concise phrasing. The phrase appears frequently in scientific and news-related sources, reflecting its neutral but relatively formal register. By being mindful of these nuances, writers can effectively employ "on a total of" to clearly convey cumulative quantities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in total

This phrase is more direct and less verbose.

amounting to

This phrase is more concise and emphasizes the resulting quantity.

totalling

This is a more formal term that also emphasizes the action of summing up.

altogether

A simpler way to denote an inclusive sum.

with a combined

This highlights the joining of different elements to reach a final number.

cumulatively

Emphasizes the gradual accumulation toward a final number.

for a grand total of

Implies an official or important sum.

in aggregate

Suitable for formal or statistical contexts.

when added up

More informal than "on a total of".

reaching a sum of

More elaborate; adds a sense of culmination.

FAQs

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

Use "on a total of" to specify the cumulative sum of multiple items. For example, "The project required 10 hours of research "on a total of" 5 days".

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

You can use alternatives like "amounting to", "in total", or "totalling" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "in total" or "on a total of"?

"In total" is often more concise and direct than "on a total of". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

What does "on a total of" emphasize in a sentence?

The phrase "on a total of" emphasizes that a sum has been calculated, often from multiple components or sources, providing an explicit final quantity.