What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
all
Example
I ate all the pizza by myself. [all: determiner]
Example
All the students in the class passed the exam. [all: pronoun]
total
Example
The total cost of the project was $10,000. [total: adjective]
Example
After adding up all the expenses, the total came to $500. [total: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
All is more commonly used than total in everyday language. All is a common word that can be used in various contexts, while total is more specific and often used in technical or specialized fields.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between all and total?
Both all and total can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, total may be perceived as more formal due to its association with mathematical or financial contexts.