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Grammar fix

work out at

to calculate the total of something

to find the total amount or cost of something after doing the necessary calculations.

phrasal verbB2occasional

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • The bill for dinner worked out at just over £30 per person.money
  • When I calculated all my monthly expenses, they worked out at nearly half of my salary, which was surprising.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: work out at + amount/number

WrongIt works out fifty pounds each.

RightIt works out at fifty pounds each.

Don't drop 'at' — 'work out AT' a figure (BrE).

Patternwork out at + amount/number

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The total expenditure amounts to fifty pounds per person.

Natural It works out at about fifty quid each.

'Work out at' is the natural BrE phrase for a calculated total; the formal version is stiff.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • works out at
    ataboutroughlyper person

Don't confuse it

'Work out' alone can mean to exercise or to solve a problem, but 'work out at' is used for totals or amounts.

Try it in Daily Speak →