sum above

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sum above" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "To calculate the total, please refer to the sum above for the final figures."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Corporations seem to be deciding what they should pay, not as a percentage like the rest of us, but as a sum above which they don't want to go".

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Bell, in his presentation, offered a defense of the bonuses, which totaled an unspecified sum above $41.4 million and were paid for 2003 performance to almost 4,000 of the estimated 44,000 Interpublic employees.

The New York Times

At the moment, because no student pays anything while at university and only begins to pay at all when earning above £25,000 – and then only a percentage of the sum above that figure – poorer students pay little or nothing.

The Guardian

In assessing damages the court may enter judgment, according to the circumstances of the case, for any sum above the amount found as actual damages, not exceeding three times such amount.

Cornell University

The scope of the statute and the evident purpose of congress are to prevent an applicant for pension from being mulcted any sum above $10 by any one assisting in the matter.

Cornell University

With each of these cards priced at £13.29 or $22 in real money, the sum above - accumulated by a player named "epiicmoddingtobi" - is worth just under £12 million or $20m in real money.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

This relates to the case where E(S ii ) does not depend on F, i.e., contains no information about F. Therefore, the two sums above are taken over the SNPs where K > ½.

BMC Genomics

To make a comprehensive evaluation, we consider the composite score that is the sum of above three scores in this study.

BioMed Research International

Noticing ( Δ u, ∇ × w ) = ( Δ w, ∇ × u ), we sum the above equations and integrate by parts to obtain (2.15).

Boundary Value Problems

§Many patients had multiple comorbidities; therefore, the total does not sum the above.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

In sum, the above results show for the first time a causal relationship between carbonylation, protein aggregation and apoptosis of neurons undergoing oxidative damage.

ASN Neuro

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a calculation result, clarify what is being summed and what threshold it exceeds. For example, instead of "the sum above is significant", specify "the sum of all costs, which exceeds the budget, is significant".

Common error

Avoid using "sum above" without a clear antecedent. Ensure the reader knows exactly what "sum" is being referenced. Instead, restate the components of the sum for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sum above" functions primarily as a noun phrase referring to a total quantity that exceeds a certain value. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered standard English, suggesting that it may be perceived as incomplete or lacking clarity without additional context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

50%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "sum above" appears in a variety of contexts from news to scientific literature, Ludwig AI indicates that it is not considered standard English due to its lack of clarity. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, but its imprecise nature makes it less suitable for formal academic or business writing. To improve clarity, it's recommended to specify exactly what quantity is being summed and what threshold it exceeds, or choose more precise alternatives like "amount exceeding" or "total surpassing". Overall, careful consideration should be given to ensure clarity and precision when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amount exceeding

This alternative emphasizes the exceeding of a specific quantity, removing the reference to a 'sum'.

total surpassing

Replaces "sum" with "total" and "above" with "surpassing", maintaining a similar quantitative meaning.

aggregate exceeding

Uses "aggregate" instead of "sum", which is a more formal term and exchanges "above" for "exceeding".

value greater than

Emphasizes a comparative relationship, where a value is larger than a specific amount, rather than referring to an addition.

figure exceeding

Uses 'figure' as a synonym for 'sum' and 'exceeding' in place of 'above'.

quantity over

Focuses on the quantity that surpasses a certain level, changing both the noun and preposition.

combined total exceeding

Highlights the combination aspect with 'combined total' while also indicating surpassing.

cumulative amount greater than

Replaces "sum" with "cumulative amount" to emphasize the accumulation and uses 'greater than'.

total exceeding a limit

Highlights the concept of a maximum threshold being surpassed by a total amount.

grand total surpassing

Uses “grand total” as a synonym for “sum” to emphasize a significant magnitude and changes "above" to "surpassing".

FAQs

How can I use "sum above" in a sentence correctly?

While the phrase "sum above" is not incorrect, it is not standard English. It is best to rephrase it to ensure clarity. For example, use something like "the total mentioned above" or "the aggregate stated above".

What does "sum above" mean?

The phrase "sum above" typically refers to the total or aggregate of something that exceeds a specific value or threshold. For clearer alternatives, consider using "amount exceeding" or "total surpassing".

Is "sum above" formal or informal?

Due to its lack of precision and somewhat awkward construction, "sum above" is generally unsuitable for formal writing. Opt for clearer, more precise alternatives like "aggregate exceeding" for formal contexts.

What are some alternatives to using "sum above" in academic writing?

In academic writing, precision is crucial. Instead of "sum above", try using phrases such as "value greater than", or be even more specific by restating the entire equation or quantity being discussed for maximum clarity.