they amount to

USAGE SUMMARY

"they amount to" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means that something adds up or equates to a certain value or level. Example: "After tallying up all the costs, it was determined that they amount to $5000." This means that after calculating all the expenses, the total cost was found to be $5000. You can use this phrase when talking about numerical values, quantities, levels, or outcomes. It is often used in formal or academic writing, such as in reports, essays, or financial statements.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But what did they amount to?

The Economist

(Often they amount to the same thing).

The New York Times - Magazine

And sometimes they amount to cyberabuse.

The New York Times

Together they amount to a statistical lock.

The New York Times - Sports

Yet they amount to a dramatic shift in power.

The Guardian

The question is, though, do they amount to anything else?

The Guardian - Arts

Together, though, they amount to patching up the existing system.

The Economist

About half were approved & they amount to over $150,000.

The New Yorker

Today they amount to only 24 percent of G.D.P.

The New York Times

Nowadays, they amount to about 1.8 million citizens and make up 20% of Israel's population.

University of California, Berkeley

These things may sound minor, but together they amount to a hurricane of tooth-blunting fury.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they amount to", ensure the pronoun 'they' clearly refers to a specific plural noun or concept previously mentioned in your writing for clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Avoid using "they amount to" when referring to a singular subject. Ensure the pronoun 'they' agrees in number with the noun it represents to prevent grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they amount to" functions as a copular verb phrase, linking a plural subject to a noun or adjective phrase that describes the subject's total value, effect, or equivalent. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

18%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they amount to" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express the total value, effect, or equivalence of multiple items. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase functions as a copular verb phrase and appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with notable usage in science and academic writing. While versatile, it's important to maintain pronoun-antecedent agreement to avoid errors. Remember, "they amount to" indicates a plural subject, while singular subjects need "it amounts to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they total

This focuses on the numerical sum or aggregate of something.

they add up to

Similar to "they total", but emphasizes the process of addition.

they constitute

This alternative indicates that several elements combine to form a whole.

they represent

This suggests that something is symbolic or indicative of something else.

they come to

A more informal way to express the final sum or result.

they equate to

Similar to "they are equivalent to", highlighting the resulting equality.

they are equivalent to

This emphasizes the equality in value or meaning.

they translate to

Focuses on the outcome or result after a transformation or conversion.

they boil down to

This implies reducing something complex to its essential elements.

they signify

This highlights the meaning or importance that something conveys.

FAQs

How can I use "they amount to" in a sentence?

You can use "they amount to" to indicate a total or resultant value. For example: "The costs of the project, when added together, "they amount to" $1 million".

What's a formal alternative to "they amount to"?

A more formal alternative would be "they constitute" or "they represent", depending on the context. These phrases are appropriate for academic or professional writing.

Is it correct to use "it amounts to" instead of "they amount to"?

No, "it amounts to" should be used with singular subjects, while ""they amount to"" is for plural subjects. For example, "The sum of the parts amounts to a whole".

How does "they amount to" differ from "they add up to"?

"They add up to" specifically refers to totaling a sum, whereas ""they amount to"" can also mean they are equivalent to or result in something, offering a broader range of meanings.