total capacity

USAGE SUMMARY

"total capacity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to refer to the size or quantity of something. For example, "The total capacity of the stadium is 50,000 people."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Total capacity is planned for 1,000.

The New York Times

Speed of availability is as important as total capacity.

The Economist

The total capacity for that period is estimated at 4,459 megawatts.

The New York Times

Total capacity has jumped by 128% over the last decade to 58m tonnes per year.

The Guardian

Some renewable energy technologies – including solar and wind – are growing in total capacity very quickly.

The Guardian

The eventual total capacity of the Time Warner restaurants does not come close.

The New York Times - Food

Engineers built it around the existing stand, taking the total capacity to 54,167.

The Guardian - Sport

1.2-litre capacity bowl (dry), three-litre total capacity bowl (liquid), 1.5-litre blender.

The Guardian - Money

The acquisition will give Kaneb seven petroleum products terminals with a total capacity of 7.8 million barrels, the company said.

The New York Times

The industry says there is now 12GW of electricity-generating capacity, out of the UK's total capacity of 80-90GW.

The Guardian

Amazon said the new building will provide it with "total capacity" for more than 5,000 London employees.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about technical specifications or limitations, using "total capacity" provides clarity and precision. For example, "The server's total capacity is 16TB".

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "total capacity" with current usage. "Total capacity" refers to the maximum possible amount, while current usage is the amount currently being used.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total capacity" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. It describes a measurable quantity, potential, or limit. Ludwig examples demonstrate usage in various contexts, consistently referring to a maximum quantity or potential.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Wiki

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "total capacity" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe the maximum amount or ability that something can hold or produce. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, especially those requiring precision, such as News & Media, Science and Wiki. While substitutes like "maximum capacity" or "overall capacity" exist, "total capacity" provides clear and concise information about limits and potential. Be mindful of differentiating "total capacity" from current usage, and leverage this phrase to add clarity when discussing technical specifications or limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maximum capacity

Replaces "total" with "maximum", emphasizing the upper limit.

overall capacity

Uses "overall" instead of "total", indicating a general measure.

full capacity

Emphasizes the state of being completely filled or utilized.

aggregate capacity

Implies a combined or cumulative amount.

complete capacity

Highlights the entirety of the capacity.

maximum potential

Focuses on the achievable limit rather than the existing amount.

peak capacity

Refers to the highest level of capacity.

rated capacity

Specifies the designed or officially recognized capacity.

nominal capacity

Indicates a standard or expected capacity.

carrying capacity

Specifically refers to the maximum population size of a species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment.

FAQs

How can I use "total capacity" in a sentence?

You can use "total capacity" to describe the maximum amount something can hold or produce. For example, "The stadium's "total capacity" is 70,000 people".

What's a good substitute for "total capacity"?

Alternatives include "maximum capacity", "overall capacity", or "full capacity" depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "total capacity" or "maximum capacity"?

Both "total capacity" and "maximum capacity" are generally interchangeable. "Total capacity" might be preferred when emphasizing the sum or aggregate, while "maximum capacity" highlights the upper limit.

What does "total capacity" mean in the context of data storage?

In data storage, "total capacity" refers to the maximum amount of data a storage device can hold. For example, "This hard drive has a "total capacity" of 1TB".