The spelling of the phrase "reckon up" may seem confusing at first glance. The correct pronunciation is /ˈrɛkən ʌp/. The word "reckon" is spelled with a "c" instead of a "k," which is a common spelling anomaly in English. "Reckon up" means to calculate or add up, which can also be expressed as "total" or "sum up." It's important to understand the proper spelling and usage of this phrase for effective communication in both personal and professional settings.
Reckon up is a phrasal verb that refers to the act of totaling or calculating a sum or amount. It is commonly used in informal contexts and is closely related to the verb "reckon," which means to estimate, consider, or take into account.
When someone reckons up, they are essentially tallying or summing up figures or quantities. This could involve adding or subtracting amounts, measuring and computing results, or simply taking stock of a situation. The phrase "reckon up" often implies a degree of careful consideration or deliberation when determining the final total.
For example, in a financial context, reckoning up can involve adding up various expenses, incomes, or tax deductions to calculate a final desired amount. In a social setting, one might reckons up the cost of a dinner bill by adding the individual amounts owed by each person. In a sporting event, reckoning up points would involve tallying the scores or results of different players or teams to determine a winner.
Overall, reckon up captures the idea of carefully evaluating or counting quantities to reach a final total. It involves the use of calculations, estimations, or assessments to bring together various components into a comprehensive sum.
The phrase "reckon up" is composed of two words: "reckon" and "up".
The word "reckon" has its roots in the Old English word "recen", which means "to number, to count, to compute". It eventually evolved into Middle English as "reken" and further transformed into the modern English term "reckon". The term is often used to signify the action of calculating, estimating, or considering something.
The word "up", in this context, functions as an adverb that adds intensity or completion to the action of reckoning. Similar to other phrasal verbs in English, such as "write up" or "sum up", "reckon up" implies a more comprehensive or thorough process of reckoning or calculation. It conveys the idea of summing up, totaling, or evaluating something in its entirety.