a single whole

USAGE SUMMARY

"a single whole" is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is a unified thing or entity, so that it can be seen as a single unit rather than a collection of individual parts. For example, "From separate parts, the mechanic was able to create a single whole."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

He drew yin-yang symbols, representing how they were two halves of a single whole.

The New Yorker

Patterns of thought and activity which form part of a single whole are split into topics.

The Guardian - Books

These separate scans were then combined into a single whole body mesh of 10000 triangular faces.

Nature

If we value it at all, public service broadcasting must be treated as a single whole.

The Guardian

Suppose further, that all flesh came together into a single whole of flesh endowed with this aquiline quality.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But with speculative architectures, each such task is "atomic," meaning that it should seem to execute as a single whole.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

A single whole-body CT scan delivers radiation equivalent to 400 chest X-rays.

Harvard Business Review

Under ketamine anaesthesia, each rat received a single whole-body dose of 800 cGy.

Life Sciences

Only by a holistic vision--seeing the three separate "pac-men" as parts of a single whole--do we perceive a triangle.

Princeton University

BBC News reports on a "blood clot probe" developed by the Martinos Center's Peter Caravan and colleagues that can find blood clots anywhere in the body with a single, whole-body PET scan.

Harvard University

Moreover, it reduces the costs of mutant identification, since it employs a single whole-genome sequencing run for both mutant mapping as well as mutant identification.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a single whole" to emphasize the unified nature of something, especially when contrasting it with fragmented or separate parts. This highlights the idea that the components function as one inseparable entity.

Common error

Avoid using "a single whole" when you actually mean to refer to a component or element of something larger. Ensure the context accurately reflects the idea of unity and completeness, not just a piece of something else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a single whole" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a direct object, predicate nominative, or object of a preposition. It represents something that is complete and unified, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a single whole" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that emphasizes unity and completeness across various domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as a noun phrase and serves to highlight the indivisible nature of an entity. While versatile, it's important to ensure that its usage accurately reflects the concept of unity, avoiding its misuse when referring to mere components. Alternatives like "an integrated unit" or "a complete unit" can be used to express similar ideas with slightly different nuances. This phrase is particularly common in scientific and academic writing, reflecting its usefulness in describing systems and concepts as unified entities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complete unit

Stresses the completeness and self-sufficiency of the entity.

a unified entity

Highlights the unified nature of the subject.

a consolidated whole

Implies a process of combining parts into a single, stronger entity.

an integrated unit

Emphasizes the integration of parts into a cohesive entity.

a cohesive entity

Emphasizes the sticking together of the parts to create a whole.

an indivisible entity

Focuses on the inability to divide the subject into separate parts.

an unbroken unit

Emphasizes that the unit remains complete and undamaged.

a self-contained unit

Focuses on the unit's ability to function independently.

a solitary unit

Highlights the singleness and isolation of the unit.

a discrete entity

Highlights the distinct and separate nature of the entity.

FAQs

How can I use "a single whole" in a sentence?

Use "a single whole" to emphasize the unity and indivisibility of something. For example, "The artist aimed to represent the universe as "a single whole", rather than a collection of separate elements."

What are some alternatives to "a single whole"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "an integrated unit", "a unified entity", or "a complete unit" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it redundant to say "a single whole"?

While "whole" can imply singleness, using "a single whole" can add emphasis to the idea of unity and completeness, especially when contrasting it with fragmented or separate parts.

What's the difference between "a single whole" and "the entire thing"?

"A single whole" emphasizes the indivisibility and unity of something, while "the entire thing" simply refers to everything included without necessarily emphasizing its unified nature. "A single whole" can also imply more of an abstraction versus "the entire thing".