sum sought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sum sought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts involving finance, mathematics, or legal matters where a specific amount or total is being requested or pursued. Example: "The sum sought in the lawsuit is $1 million, which the plaintiff believes is justified based on the damages incurred."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A billionaire who could write a check for the sum sought by the Mets "would have an edge on us," Heyn said.

The New York Times - Sports

The sum sought by the company, which was revised several times over the course of the dispute, at one point exceeded $300m – almost twice the $158m in international aid that El Salvador received in 2014.

The Guardian

We still have to see what the terms of the agreement actually are, should they ever be made public, but based on the sum sought by the plaintiffs in the original case, it's likely that Apple isn't going to be sweating the cost too much either way.

TechCrunch

A jury awarded Tomjanovich $3.25 million in damages, even though the original sum sought was only $2.6 million.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Sums sought exceed £500m.

The Guardian - Business

The sums sought in the suits are rising.

The Economist

But the sums sought in these cases are small change compared with the colossal amounts sometimes claimed in "class-action suits"—cases brought on behalf of a large group of plaintiffs whose numbers have grown tenfold in the past decade.

The Economist

Oxfam's assessment is based on the sums sought by the UN, Red Cross and other appeals and the relative wealth and income of a group of 28 traditional big donor countries and Middle East states.

BBC

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said the compulsory purchase order was a "last resort" due to the "unbridgeable gap" between the valuation set by the district valuer and the sum being sought by Mrs Jaconelli.

BBC

Glasgow City Council said the compulsory purchase order had been a "last resort" due to the "unbridgeable gap" between the valuation set by the district valuer and the sum being sought by Mrs Jaconelli.

BBC

In sum, Obama sought not to close Guantánamo but simply to re-locate it to Illinois, and in doing so, to preserve what makes it such a travesty of justice: its system of indefinite detention.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sum sought", ensure the context clearly indicates what the sum refers to, whether it's damages, compensation, or payment, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "sum sought" without specifying who is seeking the sum and from whom. Always clarify the parties involved for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sum sought" functions as a noun phrase followed by a past participle, acting as a descriptive term within a sentence. It typically identifies a specific amount of money or compensation that is being formally requested or pursued. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sum sought" is a grammatically sound way to refer to an amount of money or compensation being formally requested. While Ludwig confirms its correctness, it's less common than alternatives like "amount requested". Its usage is most frequent in news and media contexts, often pertaining to legal or financial claims. Remember to clearly specify the parties involved when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity. Although correct and usable, you might consider more common alternatives depending on your target audience and the context of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amount claimed

Replaces "sum" with "amount", focusing on the quantity being asserted as due.

compensation requested

Substitutes "sum" with "compensation", emphasizing the restitution aspect.

damages claimed

Replaces "sum" with "damages", specifically related to legal claims for losses.

funds requested

Substitutes "sum" with "funds", highlighting a request for financial resources.

amount pursued

Replaces "sought" with "pursued", emphasizing the act of chasing the amount.

payment demanded

Substitutes "sought" with "demanded", highlighting a more assertive request.

restitution sought

Focuses on the aspect of restoring something lost or stolen, rather than a general sum.

financial redress sought

Highlights the financial compensation aimed at correcting a wrong.

monetary compensation claimed

Emphasizes that compensation is in the form of money.

total demanded

Highlights that a specific total of money is being requested.

FAQs

How can I use "sum sought" in a sentence?

You can use "sum sought" in sentences like: "The "sum sought" by the plaintiffs was considered excessive", or "The judge reviewed the evidence to determine if the "sum sought" was justified".

What's a more common alternative to "sum sought"?

While "sum sought" is grammatically correct, phrases like "amount requested" or "compensation claimed" may be more frequently used in contemporary English.

In what contexts is "sum sought" most appropriate?

"Sum sought" is often used in legal or financial contexts when discussing claims or requests for specific amounts of money. It's suitable for formal writing where precision is important.

Is there a difference between "sum sought" and "amount requested"?

While similar, "amount requested" is a broader term. "Sum sought" often implies a formal claim or legal action, whereas "amount requested" can refer to any request for money.