Totalling vs Totaling: Easy Rules for Correct Usage

Ever found yourself staring at a Word document, arguing with the spell check over whether it’s totalling or totaling? Don’t worry, you’re not losing your mind English just loves to keep us guessing. One extra “L” might not seem like a big deal, but it can instantly reveal whether you sip tea in London or coffee in New York. In this guide on totalling vs totaling, we’ll settle the debate once and for all, explain the sneaky spelling rules behind it, and make sure your next report, essay, or email doesn’t end up getting totaled by grammar confusion.

What Do Totalling and Totaling Mean?

Both totalling and totaling come from the verb to total, meaning to add up or calculate the sum of something.

In other words, the totalling meaning and totaling meaning are the same the only difference lies in regional spelling preferences.

For example:

• British English (UK): The repairs are totalling £2,000.
• American English (US): The repairs are totaling $2,000.

So, the difference between totalling and totaling is purely a matter of where you live or who you’re writing for not what you’re trying to say.

Totalling vs Totaling The Regional Rule

Here’s the quick rule:

Region	Preferred Spelling	Example
British English	Totalling	The figures are totalling £5,000.
American English	Totaling	The damages are totaling $5,000.

This pattern reflects common British vs American spelling differences. British English tends to double consonants in certain verbs before adding suffixes like -ing or -ed, while American English simplifies them.

Examples:

• Travelling vs Traveling
• Cancelling vs Canceling
• Modelling vs Modeling

So, the totalling spelling rule follows the British double-L tradition, while the totaling spelling rule follows the American simplification trend.

Why Spelling Differences in English Arise

These differences began thanks to Noah Webster, the American lexicographer who led a spelling reform in American English in the 1800s.

Webster wanted American spelling to be simpler and more logical. His influence created familiar differences like:

• Colour → Color
• Defence → Defense
• Traveller → Traveler
• Totalling → Totaling

His reforms aimed to make English spelling more phonetic. Meanwhile, British English kept older, traditional forms influenced by French and Latin roots.

This divergence explains many British vs American spelling differences that exist today.

CYC Meaning in Text: Definition Usage and Contexts

The Double “L” Spelling Rule Explained

The double L spelling rule is the main reason why you see “totalling” with two Ls in British English and “totaling” with one L in American English.

British Rule for Verbs Ending in L

When a verb ends with a single vowel followed by an L, double the L before adding endings like -ing or -ed.

Examples:

Base Verb	British English	American English
Travel	Travelling	Traveling
Cancel	Cancelling	Canceling
Model	Modelling	Modeling
Total	Totalling	Totaling

British English keeps the double L to preserve pronunciation and rhythm, while American English simplifies by dropping one L.

When to Use Totalling and When to Use Totaling

The choice depends on your audience and where your writing will be read.

• Use totalling in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Use totaling in the United States.

Examples:

• UK English: The donations are totalling more than £10,000.
• US English: The donations are totaling more than $10,000.

Quick Tip

Your spell check settings decide which version is flagged as correct. Set your language preference to English (United Kingdom) or English (United States) before editing your work.

Totalling vs Totaling in Real Life Examples

Here’s how both spellings appear in real world writing:

Source Type	Example Sentence	Region
Business Report	The project expenses are totalling £45,000.	UK
News Article	Storm damages are totaling over $2 million.	US
Academic Paper	The errors are totalling fewer than expected.	UK
Financial Summary	Claims are totaling nearly $800,000 this quarter.	US

Case Study:
A London marketing agency working with a US client noticed that their internal reports used “totalling,” while the client’s documents said “totaling.” They solved this by switching their document language settings to match the client’s region. This simple change ensured spelling consistency and maintained a professional appearance.

Reevaluation or Re-evaluation: Hyphen Rules in American English

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Here are some common pitfalls when dealing with totalling vs totaling and how to sidestep them:

1. Mixing Both Spellings in One Document
   Stick to one version throughout your writing. Mixing British and American spellings can confuse readers.
2. Letting Auto-Correct Decide for You
   Tools like Grammarly or Word automatically switch based on your language settings. Always check your settings before finalizing a document.
3. Copying Text from Different Regions
   When copying British text for a US audience (or vice versa), run a regional spell-check.
4. Forgetting Other Forms
   Remember, the same rule applies to totalled vs totaled and other verb forms.

Pro Tip:
“Consistency is more important than correctness choose one spelling and stick to it.”

Synonyms and Alternatives for Totalling/Totaling

Don’t want to worry about the Ls? Use synonyms that convey the same meaning.

Common Synonyms

• Adding up
• Summing
• Calculating
• Counting up
• Combining
• Aggregating
• Reaching a total of

Examples:

• The costs are adding up quickly.
• The numbers are summing to a significant amount.
• The total cost is reaching one million dollars.

Using these alternatives can make your writing more varied and engaging especially in reports, articles, or presentations.

Preform vs Perform: Correct Word to Use Every Time

Quick Comparison Table: Totalling vs Totaling

Feature	Totalling	Totaling
Language	British English	American English
Used In	UK, Canada, Australia	US
Double L?	Yes	No
Example	The losses are totalling £300.	The losses are totaling $300.
Follows Double L Rule	Yes	No
Function	Present participle or gerund	Present participle or gerund
Related Words	Totalled, Totaller	Totaled, Totaler

Totalling vs Totaling in Formal Writing

In professional contexts, choose the version that matches your audience and style guide.

• APA, MLA, Chicago (US) prefer totaling.
• Oxford, Cambridge, The Guardian (UK) prefer totalling.

Examples:

• US Business Report: The expenditures are totaling over $4,500 this quarter.
• UK Research Paper: The expenditures are totalling over £4,500 this quarter.

Best Practice for Global Writers

If you write for an international audience, you can:

1. Use American spelling (totaling) for broader online visibility.
2. Or stick with British spelling (totalling) for UK-based readers.

The key is spelling consistency in writing not mixing both versions.

Reference: Cambridge Dictionary Definitions

Here’s a trusted source for clear word meanings:

• Cambridge Dictionary

FAQs

How to Use Totalling in a Sentence

The word totalling is the British English spelling of the verb total, which means “to add up” or “to reach a total amount.” It’s commonly used when calculating figures, expenses, or quantities. For instance, you might say, “The expenses were totalling nearly £2,000 by the end of the week,” or “The damage was totalling more than anyone expected.” You can also use it in sentences like “She reviewed the sales, totalling the monthly earnings before the meeting.” In every case, totalling expresses the act of combining amounts to reach a total figure.

Does Totaling Have One L or Two?

Whether you use one “L” or two depends entirely on where you’re writing from. Totaling with one “L” is used in American English, while totalling with two “L’s” is the preferred form in British English. This is one of those classic spelling differences that separate the two versions of English. If you’re in the United States, go with totaling; if you’re in the United Kingdom or another Commonwealth country, use totalling.

How to Use Totaling

Totaling carries the same meaning as totalling, just in the American spelling. It’s used to describe the process of calculating or summing up numbers, amounts, or values. For example, “The car repair bills are totaling over $3,000,” or “He was totaling the votes to confirm the final count.” You could also say, “The project costs are totaling up fast!” It conveys the idea of reaching or calculating a total amount in U.S. English.

How Do You Spell Totalling in the UK?

In the United Kingdom, the correct spelling is totalling, spelled with a double “L.” This follows a common British spelling rule where verbs ending with a vowel plus “L” double the “L” before adding suffixes like -ing or -ed. For example, words like travel become travelling and cancel becomes cancelling. Similarly, total becomes totalling. This pattern is consistent across most British writing and is an important distinction when proofreading or editing for a UK audience.

What Is Totaling in English?

In English, totaling refers to the act of adding up numbers or reaching a final amount. It can also describe destruction or damage, especially in informal American usage. For example, “The donations are totaling $10,000 so far” means the contributions have reached that amount. However, in a different context, “His car was totaled in the accident” means the vehicle was completely destroyed. The word can therefore represent both the mathematical act of addition and the figurative idea of something being completely ruined.

Is Spelling Grammatically Correct?

Spelling is related to grammar but technically belongs to orthography, the system of writing correctly in a given language. Grammar deals with sentence structure and word relationships, while spelling focuses on writing words with the correct letters in the correct order. Although spelling isn’t strictly grammar, accurate spelling supports grammatical correctness and ensures clarity. In short, spelling and grammar work together to make writing clear, professional, and easy to understand.

What Are 5 Examples of Sentences Using Totalling or Totaling?

Here are a few examples that show how both spellings appear naturally in context.

The expenses were totalling £500 for the event. The tickets are totaling $200 for both shows. The invoices were totalling more than expected. The repairs ended up totaling nearly $5,000. She checked the numbers twice before totalling the results.

Each of these sentences demonstrates the same meaning the process of calculating or reaching a total amount regardless of whether you use British or American spelling.

What Is a Synonym for Totalling To?

There are several alternatives that can replace totalling to without changing the meaning of a sentence. You can use amounting to, adding up to, reaching, coming to, summing to, or equaling, depending on the context. For example, “The total expenses amounted to £1,200,” or “The donations added up to $5,000.” These expressions work well in both formal and casual writing and can help you vary your sentence structure while maintaining accuracy and flow.

Conclusion

So, after all that, who knew one tiny “L” could cause such a big linguistic tug of war? Whether you’re team totalling or team totaling, both sides have a valid point and plenty of vowels to back them up. The secret? Keep your spelling consistent, your grammar sharp, and your spell check on your side. Think of it this way: British English likes to double down, while American English prefers to trim the fat. Either way, as long as your writing adds up, you’re in the clear. So go ahead total it, totalling it, or totaling it just don’t let grammar subtract your confidence!