sums down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sums down" is not correct and is not used in written English.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The low cost device is now within touching distance of $3 million in crowd pledges — having blasted past its original $50,000 funding goal in 11 minutes — although The Micro's Kickstarter traction still sums down to a relatively small pool of backers (10,360+ at the time of writing).

TechCrunch

Remember how the players would almost always turn those sums down, and then the audience and everyone else would applaud.

Vice

Here we look at the rising sums down the years, including the £1,000 striker called Common and the forward who was injured when he signed for £35m and is on the sidelines again now.

BBC

This has another consequence: because VCs are mostly price-insensitive at this point (they view these seed investments as options to invest larger sums down the road), they don't mind if the startup valuation grows higher than it would have.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

German actor Michael Fassbender has odds of 3/1 after a female punter placed a three-figure sum down on the Jane Eyre actor to play the suave billionaire from EL James' novels.

Independent

Percents sum down columns.

BMC Geriatrics

As recently as early January, political observers were marveling at the unprecedented sums raining down on Austin.

The New York Times

The group spent large sums tracking down immigrants from the Dominican Republic, using a blend of data-mining and instinct to find and register more than 21,000 voters.

The Economist

It was really part of the royalty or rental in a lump sum or down payment.

Cornell University

Destiny is bigger than all of them, but somehow, the sum breaks down in the act of playing.

The Guardian - Tech

The sum breaks down into €123bn for the decommissioning of old reactors and €130bn for the management of spent fuel, radioactive waste and deep geological disposal processes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a decrease in numerical values, consider using more precise and grammatically standard alternatives like "amounts decreased" or "totals declined" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Avoid combining "sums" with "down" unless it's part of an established idiomatic expression. In most contexts, using precise verbs such as "decrease", "reduce", or "decline" will provide greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sums down" primarily functions as a noun phrase followed by an adverbial particle, but its usage is non-standard. Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a correct or widely used expression in written English. Examples show attempts to use it in contexts involving reduction or decrease.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sums down" is not considered standard English. While it appears in some contexts, primarily News & Media and Science, Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect. The phrase is intended to convey a reduction in quantity or amount. For clearer and more professional writing, it's best to use alternatives such as "amounts decreased", "totals declined", or "figures dropped". These alternatives are grammatically sound and more widely accepted in both formal and informal contexts, ensuring that your message is accurately understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

amounts decreased

Focuses on the reduction in quantity or value, emphasizing the numerical aspect.

totals declined

Highlights the decrease in aggregate figures, suitable for financial or statistical contexts.

figures dropped

Emphasizes a noticeable fall in numbers or data points.

values reduced

Focuses on the lowering of worth or importance.

prices lowered

Specifically refers to a decrease in the cost of goods or services.

expenditures decreased

Highlights a reduction in spending or expenses.

investments lessened

Refers to a decrease in the amount or intensity of investments.

debts paid

Indicates the action of reducing debt through payments.

inventory depleted

Implies a reduction in the amount of available stock or supplies.

assets diminished

Focuses on the decrease in the overall worth of possessions.

FAQs

How can I use "sums down" in a sentence?

While "sums down" is not a standard English phrase, you might be intending to express a reduction in amounts. Consider using alternatives like "the amounts decreased" or "the totals declined" for better clarity.

What is a more correct way to say "sums down"?

Instead of "sums down", use phrases like "amounts decreased", "totals declined", or "figures dropped" depending on the context. These alternatives are grammatically sound and widely accepted.

What can I say instead of "sums down" to indicate a reduction?

You can use alternatives like "amounts decreased", "totals declined", or "figures dropped" depending on the specific situation.

Is "sums down" grammatically correct?

The phrase "sums down" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more precise and widely accepted phrases like "amounts decreased" or "totals declined".