staggering sum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "staggering sum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an amount of money or a quantity that is surprisingly large or difficult to comprehend. Example: "The charity received a staggering sum of donations, exceeding all expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

That's a staggering sum.

The New York Times

David's reaction to this staggering sum goes through several stages.

The New York Times

For Cromitie, he proffered $250,000: a staggering sum.

The Guardian

It is a staggering sum, a figure that has amazed most observers in European rugby.

Independent

This was during the Great Depression, and the prize money represented a staggering sum.

The New York Times

"Head of Apostle" isn't the first drawing by Raphael to achieve a staggering sum.

The New York Times

Why, then, has it sold for the staggering sum of £102.6m?

The Guardian - Arts

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi quickly criticized the rescue, calling the $85 billion a "staggering sum".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

It was ticket demand for the 2001 musical "The Producers" that persuaded Broadway executives they could charge the then-staggering sum of $480 for the best seats.

The New York Times - Arts

She cost a then-staggering sum of over five and a half million rubles.

Wikipedia

They also hired increasingly expensive cantors until, in 1886, Kahal Adath Jeshurun hired P. Minkowsy for the "then-staggering sum of five thousand dollars per annum" (today $).

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "staggering sum" when you want to emphasize that an amount is surprisingly large and perhaps difficult to grasp immediately. For example: "The national debt has reached a staggering sum, requiring careful fiscal management."

Common error

Avoid using "staggering sum" when describing relatively small amounts. The impact of the phrase is diminished if the sum isn't genuinely significant in the context. For instance, don't say, "He spent a staggering sum of five dollars on coffee."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "staggering sum" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "staggering" modifies the noun "sum". It denotes a large amount that is surprising or overwhelming. Ludwig provides many examples across different contexts showcasing its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "staggering sum" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a surprisingly large amount. As shown by Ludwig, it is primarily used in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts to emphasize magnitude. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, remember to use it judiciously and avoid applying it to trivial amounts to maintain its impact. Alternatives such as "astounding amount" or "immense total" can be used to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astounding amount

Replaces "staggering" with "astounding", emphasizing the surprise element.

enormous quantity

Substitutes "sum" with "quantity", focusing on the large number or amount.

colossal figure

Uses "colossal" to highlight the immensity, and "figure" to denote a numerical value.

immense total

Replaces "staggering" with "immense", conveying a sense of vastness.

prodigious number

Uses "prodigious" to indicate something extraordinary in size or extent.

considerable amount

A more understated way of saying a large amount.

substantial quantity

Similar to considerable amount but slightly more formal.

significant sum

Emphasizes the importance rather than the size.

whopping amount

A more informal and emphatic way of expressing a large amount.

remarkable quantity

Highlights the noteworthiness of the amount.

FAQs

How to use "staggering sum" in a sentence?

Use "staggering sum" to describe a surprisingly or impressively large amount of something, usually money. For example, "The company reported a staggering sum in profits this quarter."

What can I say instead of "staggering sum"?

You can use alternatives like "astounding amount", "enormous quantity", or "immense total" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "staggering sum" formal or informal?

"Staggering sum" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it tends to appear more frequently in news reports and formal documents than in casual conversation. It's a relatively neutral expression.

What makes a "staggering sum" different from a "large amount"?

While both refer to quantity, "staggering sum" implies the amount is so large it is surprising, almost unbelievable. It conveys a sense of being overwhelmed by the size, which "large amount" does not necessarily suggest.