Learn about the difference between the homophones: some and sum

Definitions

some

Some is an adjective that refers to an unspecified or indefinite amount or number of something.

Example

Can I have some water, please?

Example

I need some help with this project.

sum

Sum is a noun that refers to the total amount resulting from the addition of two or more numbers or quantities.

Example

The sum of 2 and 3 is 5.

Example

What is the sum of all the numbers on this list?

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

- To remember the difference between some and sum, think of some as referring to an unspecified amount or quantity, while sum refers to the result of adding numbers together. - You could also associate some with 'unspecified' and sum with 'addition'.