When we encounter the “a total of” phrase in a sentence, what verb is more appropriate to use, singular or plural? I referred to a number of sources, but I find no consistent answer. Can anyone give some feedback on this matter?
“Are” is standard; use the singular when the focus is specifically on the fact of something being a total.
Example: “In my group were a total of five women”.
Example: “A total of five women is impossible: you must have miscounted.”
The singular is also used when it is a total of only one thing.
Example:
She: “Please specify the colours of all the easter eggs you have in you collection bag. Surely you must have founds hundreds.”
He: “A total of one easter egg is all I have found; it is blue.”
In most cases, you would not use “a total of” with only one thing; it is used here as a mildly ironic response to the expectation that there were more.
I agree with you, Cerberus. Thank you.