whole sum

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whole sum" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the total amount or entirety of something, often in a mathematical or figurative context. Example: "To understand the project's impact, we need to consider the whole sum of the contributions made by each team member."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Interest is charged on the whole sum.

The Guardian - Business

It's a whole sum of what he wants to do".

The Guardian - Sport

It took 102 payments until I'd paid the whole sum [with interest] of £1,224.

The Guardian - Money

Administration officials wanted the political benefit of having that whole sum apply to individual workers.

The New York Times

The whole sum of her being had a kind of corpse-luminescence in the darkness: stiff and mechanical, inhibited.

The New Yorker

Stamp duty on a property costing £100,000 was definitely 1% of the whole sum in 1998, so £1,000.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The fact is, most people subconsciously know it all within their hearts but, due to pure pig-headedness, will continue to refuse to do anything about it - which, on the whole, sums up the entire British public.

The Guardian - Sport

One is better advised to treat dao as a collective noun as the part-whole sum of ways.

SEP

They could be investing it much as their target-date fund manager did, or they could be taking the whole lump sum and buying an annuity.

The New York Times

Through a bill passed in 1950, it was arranged to have the whole annual sum of the rentals collected by the town itself, as an addition to the local taxes.

The New Yorker

The nouns whole and sum are synonymous with fusion and composite.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "whole sum", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being totaled. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "whole sum total" or "entire whole sum" as these are redundant. Choose either "whole sum", "total", or "entirety" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whole sum" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a preposition or verb. Ludwig AI's examples show it denoting a complete quantity or amount, especially in financial or abstract contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whole sum" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase signifying the total or entirety of something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it appears most frequently in News & Media and scientific publications. When employing "whole sum", ensure clarity and avoid redundancy with words like "total" or "entire". Alternatives such as "total amount" or "entirety" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context. It’s a reliable expression for emphasizing completeness in an amount, concept, or assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

total amount

Focuses on the numerical quantity rather than the comprehensive nature.

entirety

Emphasizes completeness and comprehensiveness.

aggregate total

Highlights the process of combining individual elements to reach a total.

grand total

Suggests a final, all-encompassing sum.

complete amount

Stresses the lack of any missing parts or elements.

full amount

Similar to complete amount, highlighting that nothing is lacking.

total cost

Specifically refers to the overall expense.

overall sum

Indicates a comprehensive calculation or assessment.

combined total

Highlights the merging of separate amounts into one.

gross amount

Refers to the total before deductions or adjustments.

FAQs

What does "whole sum" mean?

The phrase "whole sum" refers to the total amount or entirety of something, considering all its parts or elements. It's often used in financial or mathematical contexts to emphasize the complete amount.

How can I use "whole sum" in a sentence?

You can use "whole sum" in a sentence to describe the total amount of money, effort, or resources involved in a particular situation. For example: "The project's success depends on the "total commitment" from all team members to achieve the goal.

What are some alternatives to "whole sum"?

You can use alternatives like "total amount", "entirety", or "grand total" depending on the specific context and the aspect you want to emphasize.

Is "whole sum" formal or informal language?

"Whole sum" is generally considered neutral in formality. While suitable for many contexts, consider more precise alternatives like "aggregate total" in formal or business writing where specificity is key.