tally up

USAGE SUMMARY

'tally up' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to mean to add or count up numbers to reach a final total. For example: At the end of the day, I tallied up all of my sales for the week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Readers, care to tally up your own counts?

The New York Times

It wasn't clear to me how those all those zeroes would tally up to equal prosperity.

The New York Times

Instead, if the results confirm the exit poll this figure would tally up to 336 seats.

The Guardian

When he's finished eating, a waiter will tally up the plates and give him a bill.

The New Yorker

But how could she tally up secret stashes of cash, short of peeking under people's mattresses?

The New York Times

I'll tally up the votes in a few days and then we can hit it.

The Guardian - Books

And administration officials consistently declined to tally up the money they were forfeiting.

The New York Times

The states started to tally up and they started to fall into Trump's column.

The Guardian - Arts

He said he had not even bothered to tally up Sunday's losses yet.

The New York Times

One approach is to tally up your essential living expenses (housing, health care, groceries, etc).

The New York Times

At Tripoli's Italian-built central hospital, doctors had not had time to tally up the dead.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tally up" when you need a simple and direct way to describe the act of calculating a sum. It's particularly useful in informal contexts or when explaining a process step-by-step.

Common error

Avoid replacing "tally up" with more complex or formal synonyms when simple addition or counting is all that's needed. Overcomplicating the language can make the communication less clear.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tally up" is a phrasal verb. It combines the verb "tally" with the particle "up" to create a new verb with a distinct meaning, generally related to calculating or summing a total. Ludwig provides many examples of this in use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

28%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tally up" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe the act of calculating or summing a total. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources, primarily in the News & Media and Wiki categories. While maintaining a neutral register, it serves to instruct or describe a calculation process, making it a versatile term for various contexts. Related phrases include "add up", "sum up", and "calculate the total". When using "tally up", ensure it aligns with the context's simplicity and avoid overcomplicating with more formal synonyms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

calculate the total

Focuses on the calculation aspect, emphasizing the process of arriving at a sum.

add up the figures

Emphasizes the addition of numerical values to reach a final amount.

determine the sum

Focuses on the act of finding the total or sum of something.

sum up the results

Highlights the summarization of outcomes or data to obtain a combined result.

total the expenses

Specifically refers to calculating the total amount of expenses.

compute the aggregate

Uses more formal language to describe the calculation of a combined quantity.

work out the amount

Focuses on the process of calculating the final amount through various steps.

reckon the score

Implies calculating a score, often in a competitive context.

assess the overall quantity

Highlights the assessment aspect when aiming to find the total amount of something.

count the items

Emphasizes the counting aspect when aiming to find the total number of something.

FAQs

How can I use "tally up" in a sentence?

You can use "tally up" to describe the action of calculating a total. For example, "Let's "tally up" the expenses for the trip" or "The waiter will "tally up" your plates at the end of the meal".

What's the difference between "tally up" and "calculate"?

"Tally up" often implies a simpler, more direct method of counting or adding, while "calculate" can involve more complex mathematical operations. You might "tally up" your grocery bill, but you'd calculate the trajectory of a rocket.

What can I say instead of "tally up"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "add up", "sum up", or "calculate the total".

Is it correct to say "tally up the score"?

Yes, it is correct. "Tally up the score" is a common way to describe the act of calculating the final score in a game or competition.