overall sales

USAGE SUMMARY

"overall sales" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the total amount of sales that have been made across a period of time, such as a quarter or year. For example, "Our company experienced record-breaking overall sales during the second quarter of this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Overall sales rose 11.1percentt.

The New York Times

Overall sales fell 9.6percentt.

The New York Times

Overall sales are up about 30percentt".

The New York Times - Food

Overall, sales of recorded music are tanking.

The Guardian - Music

Overall sales fell by 13percentt in July.

The New York Times

But ComScore looks at the installed base, not overall sales.

The Guardian - Tech

That represented 41percentt of Datascope's overall sales.

The New York Times

Results for 2008 have been mixed, with overall sales flat.

The New York Times

Overall, sales are off by 10 to 15percentt.

The New York Times - Food

Overall sales increased, mostly because 34 new stores were opened.

The New York Times

The sales came as overall sales at Chevrolet jumped 25%.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing "overall sales" between different periods, clearly specify the time frames being compared (e.g., "overall sales" increased by 10% year-over-year).

Common error

Avoid using "overall sales" interchangeably with profit. While sales represent revenue, profit is what remains after deducting expenses. Be specific with your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overall sales" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the total sales revenue generated by a business or entity, providing a comprehensive view of sales performance. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overall sales" is a commonly used and grammatically sound noun phrase that refers to the total revenue generated by a business. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is frequently used in news and business contexts for reporting and analysis purposes. When using this phrase, it's essential to differentiate it from profit and understand its role in assessing a company's financial health. Consider alternatives such as "total revenue" or "aggregate sales" depending on the specific context. To avoid misinterpretations, define the specific time frames to which the revenue applies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

total revenue

Focuses on the income generated from normal business operations.

aggregate sales

Emphasizes the combined or total nature of sales.

gross sales

Highlights the total sales before deductions.

total turnover

Refers to the total value of goods or services sold in a specific period.

combined sales

Stresses the act of bringing individual sales figures together.

company-wide sales

Specifies that the sales figures represent the entire company.

net sales

Refers to the revenue a company generates after subtracting deductions.

complete sales figures

Indicates the comprehensive set of data representing sales.

consolidated sales

Highlights that the sales data includes sales from subsidiary companies.

business volume

Describes the scale or magnitude of commercial activity, including sales.

FAQs

How do I use "overall sales" in a sentence?

Use "overall sales" to refer to the total amount of sales within a specific period. For example, "The company reported a significant increase in "overall sales" this quarter."

What are some alternatives to "overall sales"?

Depending on the context, consider using alternatives like "total revenue", "aggregate sales", or "gross sales".

Is it correct to use "overall sales" to describe profits?

No, "overall sales" refers to the total revenue generated, not profits. Profit is the revenue remaining after deducting all expenses. Use "net profit" or "gross profit" instead.

What is the difference between "overall sales" and "same-store sales"?

"Overall sales" represents the total revenue from all locations, while "same-store sales" (or comparable sales) measures revenue changes only for stores open for at least one year. Same-store sales provide a more accurate picture of growth by excluding the impact of new store openings.