total of people

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "total of people" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to the overall number of individuals in a specific group or population. Example: The concert venue can hold a total of 200 people.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The combined total of people who buy daily national newspapers is 9,002,963.

The Guardian

By yesterday afternoon, the unconfirmed total of people backing the online petition had passed 115,000.

Independent

That's the sum total of people who at the 2001 census described themselves as being of Asian origin.

The Guardian

The overall total of people who have died as a result of seasonal flu is likely to be higher still, the HPA added.

The Guardian

Against that, there is the unknowable total of people who would have been killed if Saddam and his crew had remained in control.

Independent

According to The New York Times, the annual total of people entering the main building is expected to double, to more than three million.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Total number of people surveyed was 1717.

The Guardian

– rather than on the total number of people per se.

The Guardian - Books

"But the total number of people is obscene".

The New York Times

The total number of people with cars may thus drop.

The Economist

The total number of people on board was not known.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "total of people", ensure the context clearly defines the group being counted. For example, specify "the total of people affected by the disaster".

Common error

Avoid using "total number of people" when "total of people" is sufficient. The word "number" is often redundant and can be omitted for conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total of people" functions as a quantifier indicating the aggregate number of individuals within a specified group or context. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, as exemplified by the numerous instances of its occurrence across various domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "total of people" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the number of individuals in a group. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. While versatile, ensuring the context is clear avoids ambiguity. Alternatives like "number of individuals" offer more formality, but the core meaning remains consistent. Be mindful to avoid redundancies such as "total number of people" for conciseness. Primarily found in News & Media and Science contexts, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Total count of individuals

Adds "count" for emphasis and uses "individuals" instead of "people".

Number of individuals

Replaces "people" with the more formal "individuals".

Sum of all people

Replaces "total" with "sum" to mean the same mathematical operation.

Collective number of people

Adds the adjective "collective" to emphasize the group aspect.

Population size

Focuses on the overall size of a population group.

Combined number of persons

Uses "combined" to indicate addition and "persons" for formality.

Complete tally of individuals

Uses "tally" instead of "total" to signify the counted number.

Aggregate of persons

Uses the more formal "persons" and "aggregate" to denote a collection.

Entire body of people

Replaces "total" with "entire body" and focuses on the group as a whole.

Overall headcount

Employs the business term "headcount" to indicate the number of people.

FAQs

How can I use "total of people" in a sentence?

You can use "total of people" to specify the size of a group. For example, "The "total of people" attending the event exceeded expectations."

What's a more formal alternative to "total of people"?

A more formal alternative is "number of individuals", which is often used in official reports and academic writing.

Is it correct to say "total number of people"?

While grammatically correct, "total number of people" can be slightly redundant. Using just ""total of people"" is often more concise and equally clear.

How does "total of people" differ from "population size"?

"Total of people" typically refers to a specific group in a given context, while "population size" generally describes the overall number of people in a defined geographic area or demographic.