- What is the difference between totaled and totalled? "Totaled" is the American English spelling, while "totalled" is the British English spelling. Both words refer to the loss of value of something, particularly vehicles in accidents, or is the past tense of the word "total."
Approximately, 43,000 fatal car crashes occur annually in the United States according to a news article in the USA News. This statistics shows that the word "totaled/totalled" is probably used a lot annually to describe the state of the cars.
For example...
🚗 After the severe storm, the insurance adjuster declared that the extensive damage to the house was irreparable, and the cost of repairs exceeded the car's value, leading to the conclusion that it was totaled.
🚗 After the severe storm, the insurance adjuster declared that the extensive damage to the house was irreparable, and the cost of repairs exceeded the car's value, leading to the conclusion that it was totalled.
In this sentence, "totaled/totalled" refers to the determination that the damage to the car is so extensive, irreparable, or costly that it exceeds the vehicle's market value, leading to the decision by the insurance company to declare it a total loss.
🚗 After the severe storm, the insurance adjuster declared that the extensive damage to the house was irreparable, and the cost of repairs exceeded the car's value, leading to the conclusion that it was totaled.
🚗 After the severe storm, the insurance adjuster declared that the extensive damage to the house was irreparable, and the cost of repairs exceeded the car's value, leading to the conclusion that it was totalled.
In this sentence, "totaled/totalled" refers to the determination that the damage to the car is so extensive, irreparable, or costly that it exceeds the vehicle's market value, leading to the decision by the insurance company to declare it a total loss.
When to use totaled
1. Past Tense of the Verb "Total" in American English:
- When you're referring to the past action of adding up or amounting to a certain number or quantity in American English, use "totaled."
Examples:
- The bill totaled $120 after dinner.
- Her donations to charity totaled over $5,000 last year.
- The team totaled 25 points in the basketball game.
- The storm totaled three cars in the neighborhood.
2. Past Participle of the Verb "Total" in American English:
- When you're using the verb "total" in its past participle form (often with auxiliary verbs like "have," "has," or "had"), use "totaled" in American English.
Examples
- The insurance adjuster has totaled my car.
- She had totaled up the expenses for the project.
- The company has totaled over a million sales this year.
- The firefighters totaled the number of people rescued from the building.
Examples from the web
"All the trick and honour points of each side are totaled, and the side with the higher total wins the difference from its opponents' score." - Encyclopedia Britannica
"Property damage eventually totaled $1,500,000." - Encyclopedia Britannica
"Giving Mr Paul the benefit of the doubt and assuming he is not trying to cut the State Department's budget by 125%, he must be referring to the combined budget for the State Department and USAID, which according to the president's February 2010 proposal would have totaled $52.8 billion." - The Economist
When to use totalled
Here's when to use "totalled":
1. Past Tense of the Verb "Total" in British English:
- When you're referring to the past action of adding up or amounting to a certain number or quantity in British English, use "totalled."
Examples:
- The bill totalled £85 after drinks and snacks.
- His contributions totalled more than £2,000 for the fundraiser.
- The team totalled 3 goals in the football match.
- The accident totalled two vehicles on the motorway.
2. Past Participle of the Verb "Total" in British English:
- When you're using the verb "total" in its past participle form (often with auxiliary verbs like "have," "has," or "had") in British English, use "totalled."
Examples
- The insurance company has totalled my motorbike.
- She had totalled up the receipts for the tax return.
- The business has totalled over a billion pounds in revenue this year.
- The researchers totalled the number of participants in the study.
Examples from the web
"According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, gross mortgage lending in the first three months of this year totalled an estimated £45bn, which was 12% down on the last three months of 2014, and 3% down on the first quarter of 2014." - The Guardian - Money
"Between 1997 and 2009, net migration to Britain totalled more than 2.2 million people." - The Guardian
"As of 2013 the deals totalled $9.2m." - The Guardian - Business
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Tips to remember the difference
Remember, "totaled" is the American English spelling, while "totalled" is the British English spelling when referring to the determination that a vehicle is a total loss. Choose the spelling consistent with the English variant you are using. The extra "l" in "totalled" aligns with British English.
Remember, "totaled" is the American English spelling, while "totalled" is the British English spelling when referring to the determination that a vehicle is a total loss. Choose the spelling consistent with the English variant you are using. The extra "l" in "totalled" aligns with British English.
Synonym/Related Phrases
- Wrecked: Describing a vehicle that has been severely damaged.
- Damaged beyond repair: Indicating that the item is not salvageable or cannot be restored.
- Written off: Referring to a vehicle that has been declared a total loss by insurance companies.
- Destroyed: Emphasizing the extensive damage or loss incurred.
- Ruined: Suggesting that the item is in a state of complete disrepair.
Common Idioms/Phrases
- Beyond repair: Indicating that something is damaged to the extent that it cannot be fixed.
- Down for the count: Suggesting that something is completely defeated or incapacitated.
- In shambles: Describing a state of total disarray or destruction.
- Go up in smoke: Referring to something being completely destroyed, often with little to no remaining trace.
- Wiped out: Emphasizing complete elimination or destruction.
FAQ
Is it totaling or totalling British English?
Totalling is British English.
What does "completely totaled" mean?
"Completely totaled" refers to a situation where a vehicle or object has suffered extensive damage to the extent that it is deemed irreparable or not economically feasible to repair. The damage is so severe that it is considered a total loss.
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References:
Thesaurus results for TOTALED
Synonyms for TOTALED: numbered, measured, equalled, averaged, reached, aggregated, comprised, came (to); Antonyms of TOTALED: built, constructed, raised, set up, erected, produced, created, made
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