What does subtotal mean?
Word: Subtotal
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Subtotal means the total of one part of a bill or list of numbers, worked out before the last amounts, such as tax or delivery, are added on.
How do you spell subtotal?
Syllables: sub - to - tal
Tricky part: It is a short word part joined to total with no space or hyphen. Watch the ending: total ends in al, not el or le.
Watch out for: subtotel, subtotle, sub total
Memory tip: End it the way you end final, with al: the subtotal always comes before the final total.
Subtotal in a sentence
Example 1: The subtotal for our groceries came to 84 pounds.
Example 2: Check the subtotal before the shopkeeper adds the carrier bag charge.
Example 3: Write the subtotal at the bottom of each page of your account book.
Fun Fact
Spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel have a SUBTOTAL function that adds up just one group of rows at a time.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the prefix that completes the word:
total
a) sub
b) sob
c) sup
d) sab
Show answer
a) sub. Sub, meaning a part or a level below, gives subtotal, the sum of one part.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) subtotal
b) discaunt
c) balence
d) payement
Show answer
a) subtotal. Balance ends in ance, discount has ou and payment needs no e, which leaves subtotal as the one to pick.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
lutabost
a) absolute
b) outlast
c) totally
d) subtotal
Show answer
d) subtotal. Totally needs a second l and a y, absolute needs an e, and outlast leaves the b unused; all eight letters make subtotal.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Mum read the subtotal aloud while Papa counted the notes in his wallett.
a) counted
b) wallett
c) aloud
d) subtotal
Show answer
b) wallett. Wallet has only one t at the end; the other three words are spelt right.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A bill shows a subtotal of 200 and a delivery charge of 30. What is the final total?
a) 30
b) 170
c) 200
d) 230
Show answer
d) 230
2. Where would you most likely see the word subtotal?
a) on a train ticket
b) on a school timetable
c) on a restaurant bill
d) on a medicine label
Show answer
c) on a restaurant bill
