1
Core meaning
A recorded count or total; as a verb, count items or agree with another total or account.
Example
The final tally included ballots from every district.
tally
/ˈtæli/ · TAL-eenoun and verb
A recorded count or total; as a verb, count items or agree with another total or account.
Use tally to express this relationship precisely: a recorded count or total; as a verb, count items or agree with another total or account.
What tally Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common noun frame
Use this noun in a complete noun phrase, adding the complement that identifies what it refers to when needed.
Example
Researchers tallied the responses by category.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact concept matters; a related term may describe its cause, evidence, or opposite instead.
Example
The published figures tally with the archive's records.
Use tally Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The final tally included ballots from every district.
Researchers tallied the responses by category.
The published figures tally with the archive's records.
Precision Matters
Tally overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
tally
vs.Means a recorded count or total; as a verb, count items or agree with another total or account.
account for
Means to explain something or constitute a specified portion of it.
tally
vs.Means a recorded count or total; as a verb, count items or agree with another total or account.
corroborate
Means confirm or support a statement with additional evidence.
tally
vs.Means a recorded count or total; as a verb, count items or agree with another total or account.
appraise
Means assess the value, quality, condition, or significance of something.
tally
vs.Means a recorded count or total; as a verb, count items or agree with another total or account.
validate
Means support the truth, accuracy, or value of something.
Test tally in Context
The team needs to count and record the responses.
1
After the final survey arrived, the team began to ___ all responses and calculate the total.