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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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totality

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"totality" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the entirety of something, such as all its components, aspects, or aspects. For example, "She considered the totality of the situation before determining the best course of action."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And we are told that this is prohibited because, were it allowed, the totality of propositions "would have members only definable in terms of the total".

Science

SEP

Hunt's complaint is merely that he "overapplies his own life story to the totality of education".

News & Media

The Guardian

"Dadayev's involvement in committing this crime is confirmed by, apart from his own confession, the totality of evidence gathered as part of this criminal case," said Judge Natalia Mushnikova.

News & Media

The Guardian

The DFA said: "The failure this week of the welfare bill to secure approval in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the consequent budgetary implications, have a direct and major impact on the prospects for implementing the totality of the Stormont House agreement.

News & Media

The Guardian

Jeanne Allen, president of the Centre for Education Reform, a Washington-based advocacy group, says the reforms are unique because Indiana has looked at education reform in its "totality", rather than taking a piecemeal approach as many other states have done.Nationally there are now 32 school voucher programs in 16 states and Washington, DC, serving at least 210,000 students.

News & Media

The Economist

The CMB is the totality of these ancient photons, as seen by Earthly observers.

News & Media

The Economist

And how they must be looking forward to covering the meetings of the proposed British-Irish Council, with its promise of lively debates to promote "the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands".It is easy to mock, and the mocking ends here.

News & Media

The Economist

The conservatives have a point when they question the coherence of moral or metaphysical relativism; but when you look at the totality of what Francis is saying, that doesn't seem to be his position.

News & Media

The Economist

Doubtless he was also deeply disappointed by the clerics who fawned on the dictators.Looking at the totality of the pope's debate with Mr Scalfari (including the exchange of texts that preceded their meeting) it becomes clear that the pope has a lot to say about the truth, as he sees it, of his own faith's understanding of the Good.

News & Media

The Economist

It does not matter if the service is performed individually or as a representative of an organization that is a professional adviser, consultant, or legal counsel to the company.Some corporate-governance lobbyists want such people to make up the totality of non-executives on company boards or, as in the case of TIAA/CREF, a "substantial majority".

News & Media

The Economist

After a 16-hour negotiating session, Axel Kicillof, the economy minister, successfully reached an accord with the Paris Club, an informal creditor group comprised of rich countries.Based on this agreement, Argentina will pay off the totality of its $9.7 billion in debt to the Paris Club over the next five years, starting with $1.15 billion before May 2015.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "totality" when you want to emphasize considering all aspects or elements of something, ensuring a comprehensive understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "totality" when simpler words like "whole" or "entirety" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "totality" is as a noun, often used as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes the entirety or aggregate of something, encompassing all its parts or aspects, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

8%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "totality" functions as a noun that signifies the entirety or completeness of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and frequently appears in formal contexts such as science, news, and business. While it's a useful word for emphasizing a comprehensive view, it's important to avoid overuse in simpler contexts where synonyms like "whole" or "entirety" might be more appropriate. Semantically related alternatives to "totality" include "entirety", "whole", and "sum total".

FAQs

How can I use "totality" in a sentence?

You can use "totality" to refer to the entirety of something. For example, "The judge considered the "totality" of the evidence before rendering a verdict."

What is a good alternative to "totality"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "totality" include "entirety", "whole", or "sum total".

Is it correct to say "the totality of all things"?

Yes, "the "totality" of all things" is a valid phrase, though it can sometimes be simplified to "everything" depending on the desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "totality" and "completeness"?

"Totality" refers to the whole of something, while "completeness" emphasizes the state of having all necessary parts or aspects. "Totality" focuses on inclusion, and "completeness" focuses on sufficiency.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: