which may sum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which may sum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the potential total or aggregate of something, often in a mathematical or analytical context. Example: "The various factors contributing to the project's success, which may sum to a significant impact, need to be evaluated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Which may sum up Greg's chances".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Which may seem a big deal.

BBC

Generally, the main strength of multi-pollutant approaches is the ability to evaluate associations for many exposures simultaneously, which may differ from summing the separate effects of each chemical from single-pollutant models (Billionnet et al. 2012; Mauderly et al. 2010; Sun et al. 2013).

Environmental Health Perspectives

It has raised the question of whether the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which may make large-sum transfers to state parties, was behind the funding.

The New York Times

The main idea seems to be a pledge to lend £200bn to businesses in the UK next year, which may be roughly the sum that would have been lent anyway.

The Guardian - Business

In addition to the repeatedly reported reduction in muscle strength in RA patients [ 16– 18], metabolic changes occur in both preclinical and later RA stages, including deterioration of blood lipid profile and insulin sensitivity [ 19– 21] which may increase cardiovascular disease risk, summing up to a reduced life span [ 22].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

In any case, even if they loved action and fantasy they don't have the clout to attract huge sums, which may be just as well.

The New Yorker

But surely an artwork, which may sell for a vast sum or be shown in a museum, is more profound than a pair of trousers?

The Guardian - Arts

The argument may be extended to any number of particles interacting by means of central forces; a potential energy function may always be found, depending only on the relative positions of the particles, which may be added to the sum of the kinetic energies (depending only on the velocities) to give a total energy that is conserved.

Encyclopedia Britannica

which may be represented as a sum of two Hamiltonians of "fast"H 1 and "slow"H 2 subsystems in dimensionless variables: (4).

Nanoscale Research Letters

In the visual realm, a concretum is a color-spot moment, which may be construed as the sum of a color, a visual-field place and a time, all of which stand in a peculiar relation of togetherness.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which may sum", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being summed. Be precise to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "which may sum" when referring to abstract or non-quantifiable concepts. This phrase is best suited for contexts involving numerical or measurable values.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which may sum" functions as a relative clause introducing a potential cumulative effect. It is used to specify that certain factors might add up to a particular total, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which may sum" is a grammatically correct relative clause used to express the potential cumulative effect of multiple factors. Ludwig AI suggests that while appropriate for formal and data-driven contexts, it is relatively rare, appearing mainly in scientific and news publications. When writing, ensure that the elements being summed are clear to avoid ambiguity, and be mindful of the formality level appropriate for your audience. Consider alternatives like "which might total" or "that could amount to" for subtle differences in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which might total

Replaces "may" with "might", suggesting a slightly lower probability, and "sum" with "total", keeping the sense of aggregation.

that could accumulate to

Changes the structure to emphasize the process of accumulation leading to a result.

that could aggregate to

Uses "aggregate" instead of "sum", implying a more complex collection process.

which could amount to

Focuses on the final amount or result, replacing "sum" with "amount".

that potentially adds up to

Emphasizes the potential for addition and the final result.

that possibly combines into

Highlights the combination of elements into a single outcome.

resulting in a total of

Shifts the focus to the resulting total, making the aggregation more explicit.

that can collectively reach

Stresses the collective nature of reaching a certain value or outcome.

that jointly culminates in

Highlights the joint action leading to a final culmination.

which eventually adds up to

Emphasizes that something increases little by little until it has a particular total

FAQs

How can I use "which may sum" in a sentence?

Use "which may sum" to introduce a clause that explains how certain factors might add up to a total amount or result. For example, "Several factors contribute to the project's overall cost, which may sum to over $1 million".

What are some alternatives to "which may sum"?

You can use alternatives like "which might total", "that could amount to", or "that potentially adds up to" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "which may sum" in formal writing?

Yes, "which may sum" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in contexts involving data analysis, financial reports, or scientific research. However, consider the specific audience and choose the most precise and understandable phrasing.

What is the difference between "which may sum" and "which may result"?

"Which may sum" specifically refers to the addition of elements to reach a total, whereas "which may result" is a more general phrase indicating a potential outcome or consequence. Use "which may sum" when you want to emphasize the process of summation.