What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
totaling
Example
The cost of the items in my cart is totaling $50. [totaling: verb]
Example
After totaling the expenses, we realized we had gone over budget. [totaling: gerund or present participle]
counting
Example
I am counting the number of books on the shelf. [counting: present participle]
Example
After counting the votes, we declared the winner. [counting: gerund]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Counting is more commonly used than totaling in everyday language. Counting is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while totaling is more technical and formal, and is often used in finance and accounting.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between totaling and counting?
Totaling is more formal and technical than counting, which is more casual and versatile. While totaling is typically associated with a formal tone, counting can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
