Sum up the users? Or sum up the number of users?

Question

Let's say that there is a list of users and I want to know how many users are in the list.

Would I 'sum up the users,' 'sum the users,' 'sum up the number of the users,' 'sum the number of users,' or something else?

Answer 1

In your context, "summing up" really means "giving a summary."

Summing up the users, we find six of them chose Kirk, four chose Picard, and two said they'd get us an answer on Tuesday.

If you just want to talk about the total number of users, you'd say:

The sum total of users was 12, all of whom were devoted Trekkies.

You would not use the verb "summing" without "up" in this context. "Sum" in "Sum total" is an adjective.

Answer 2

To sum up a person, or a group, is to take their measure. It is not to count them.

Answer 3

It's not wrong to use sum the way you intend, but if the method by which you reach the total amount of users in the list involves going through the full list, it is probably better to use the word count. On the other hand, let's say the users are divided into groups and you know the number of users in each group. Then you would definitely "sum the number of users in each group" to figure out the total amount of users.

Answer 4

You would "sum up the number of users." Or "sum the number of users." The verb "sum" applies to numbers so I think that the word "number" is needed in the sentence. The result would then be "the sum of all the users."

Answer 5

The word tally as a verb can mean

1. to count or reckon up.

This will encompass both the counting of individuals and the addition of the numbers of users identified in sub-groups.