there was a total of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'there was a total of' is correct and can be used in written English.
An example of this phrase in use in a sentence would be: "There was a total of ten students present in the classroom."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is thought there was a total of five people in the building.

The Guardian

Mr. Fieni estimated there was a total of about 3,660 square feet of wall space to paint.

The New York Times

There was a total of 7 candidates for the Dem.

The New Yorker

Last year there was a total of 780,000 starts.

The New York Times

There was a total of 12 trials, each former outcome was devalued twice.

Nature

There was a total of 376 positions in the final dataset.

Nature

There was a total of 74 deaths (22%) during the follow-up period (43 ± 25 months).

American Heart Journal

There was a total of 32 deaths during follow-up (24 ± 14 months).

The American Journal of Cardiology

Hence there was a total of 173,945 empty seats over the course of the season.

Independent

Mintz estimated that there was a total of 100 animation studios in Europe, most with government subsidies.

The New York Times

There was a total of 36 mesocosms comprising sandy loam soil, which were equally distributed in four thermo-controlled greenhouses.

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there was a total of", ensure the subject that follows is countable. Avoid using it with uncountable nouns; instead, rephrase to use a countable measure (e.g., "There was a total of three liters of water" instead of "There was a total of water").

Common error

A common mistake is using "there was" with a plural subject. If you're referring to multiple items, ensure you use "there were" instead of "there was". For instance, it should be "There were a total of five errors" not "There was a total of five errors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there was a total of" functions as an existential quantifier, introducing the existence and quantity of a noun. Ludwig examples show this phrase is used to introduce numerical data or amounts, such as in scientific studies, news reports, and formal documents. It is primarily used to state a specific number of items or entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there was a total of" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a specific quantity. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is very common across varied contexts, with a strong presence in scientific, news media, and formal/business domains. While generally neutral, it leans towards formal. Common errors include incorrect subject-verb agreement; ensure you use "there were" when referring to plural subjects. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "in total there were" or "the aggregate amounted to". Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical validity and broad applicability of this expression, making it a reliable choice for clear and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in total there were

Inverts the phrase structure for a slightly different emphasis.

the complete number was

Replaces 'total' with 'complete number', which is a more direct substitution.

the sum total equaled

Replaces 'total' with 'sum total' and uses 'equaled' instead of 'was', slightly emphasizing the result.

there were a sum of

Changes the verb tense and replaces 'total' with 'sum', slightly altering the tone.

the final count reached

Focuses on the act of counting and reaching a final number.

the overall figure was

Uses 'overall figure' to refer to the total, making it slightly more descriptive.

the grand total was

Emphasizes the finality of the calculation with 'grand total'.

the cumulative number totaled

Uses "cumulative" which suggests a sum achieved by successive additions, changes the verb "was" with "totaled".

the aggregate amounted to

Uses more formal vocabulary like 'aggregate' and 'amounted', increasing the formality.

when all was said and done, there were

Adds an introductory phrase that highlights the end of a process and counting.

FAQs

How can I use "there was a total of" in a sentence?

Use "there was a total of" to indicate the final quantity or sum of something. For example, "There was a total of 20 participants in the study".

What is a more formal way to say "there was a total of"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "the aggregate amounted to" or "the sum total equaled". For instance, instead of saying "There was a total of 150 attendees", you could say "The aggregate number of attendees amounted to 150".

Is it correct to say "there were a total of" instead of "there was a total of"?

Yes, it's correct to use "there were a total of" when referring to a plural subject. For example, "There were a total of seven candidates in the election".

What are some alternatives to using "there was a total of" in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "in total there were", "the complete number was", or "the final count reached" to vary your phrasing.