total score

USAGE SUMMARY

"total score" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to the final result obtained from adding up individual scores, such as in a game. For example, "After counting up the individual scores, the total score was 126."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Total score: 70.243 per cent.

The New Yorker

Howard earned the highest total score.

The Washington Post

The total score is 2,868,100 copies.

The New Yorker

This makes the total score a lot closer.

The Guardian

The program was worth 30percentt of the total score.

The New York Times - Sports

Olivia did slightly better, with a total score of 511.

The New York Times - Travel

Each game counts toward a team's total score.

The New York Times

A total score was computed for each subscale.

Nature

Total score of 6 showed the worst overall survival.

Nature

Item scores are summed to yield a total score.

Respiratory Medicine

A total score of 0 20 given for various parameters.

International Journal of Surgery

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Specify the units of measurement or scale used to calculate the "total score" to provide context and allow for meaningful comparisons.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a higher "total score" always equates to a better outcome. The interpretation depends heavily on the specific context and scoring system used. In some cases, a lower score might be more desirable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total score" functions primarily as a noun phrase, designating the aggregate sum or result of a scoring process. As Ludwig AI underlines, its grammatical role is straightforward and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

36%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total score" is a grammatically sound and highly prevalent noun phrase, primarily used to denote the final sum in various assessments. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's deemed correct and versatile. Its frequent appearance in scientific and news media underscores its neutral register. When employing "total score", ensure clarity in defining the components being summed to prevent any misinterpretation. Remember that, although high-scoring, a "total score" may be context-dependent and does not always correlate with improved results. Consider using alternatives like "overall score" or "aggregate score" to introduce variety to your writing, based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aggregate score

Replaces "total" with "aggregate", emphasizing the combined nature of the score.

overall score

Uses "overall" to indicate a comprehensive assessment rather than a sum.

combined score

Focuses on the act of combining individual scores into a single value.

final score

Highlights that the score is the concluding result.

cumulative score

Emphasizes the accumulation of points over time or multiple attempts.

composite score

Indicates that the score is made up of different components.

grand total

Similar to "total score" but often used when referring to financial amounts.

sum total

A more emphatic way of saying "total score".

net score

Implies that deductions or adjustments have been made to arrive at the final value.

end result

Focuses on the outcome of a scoring process.

FAQs

How do I use "total score" in a sentence?

You can use "total score" to refer to the sum of individual scores, like "The team's "total score" was the highest in the league." or "A 30% decrease in "total score" was considered clinically significant".

What can I say instead of "total score"?

Alternatives include "overall score", "aggregate score", or "final score" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "total score"?

While "score" inherently implies a sum or final value, using "total score" can add emphasis and clarity, especially when discussing multiple components or sub-scores. It's generally not considered redundant.

What's the difference between "total score" and "average score"?

"Total score" refers to the sum of individual scores, while "average score" is the total score divided by the number of individual scores. The average score provides a sense of central tendency, while the "total score" shows the aggregate performance.