a whole of

USAGE SUMMARY

"a whole of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an entire amount or quantity of something. For example, "I ate a whole of cookies last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Changing clinical practice in a sustained way needs a whole of team approach.

Women and Birth

Fragments were more artlike and easier to arrange into a whole of your own making.

The New York Times - Arts

It's a major setback for the club as a whole, of course it is.

Independent

Finished form and richness of conception and mood merge into a whole of classical perfection.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A whole of deep learning ideas that are around these days are basically related to how you do this.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It is no more conceivable, again, that the infinite should exist as a whole of similar parts.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

"It's fundamentally a whole-of-government approach.

The Guardian

And that's a whole-of-government effort".

The New York Times

"Part of this initiative is getting a whole-of-society response.

The Guardian

A whole-of-government response, which includes reevaluating the role of U.S. military and counterintelligence actors to secure cyber space.

The Washington Post

American national security and foreign policy requires "a whole-of-government approach to solving modern problems," Admiral Mullen said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a whole of" when you want to emphasize a comprehensive approach or perspective that considers all aspects of something.

Common error

Be mindful of using "a whole of" when a simpler phrase like "the whole" or "all" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a whole of" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun to indicate completeness or totality. As Ludwig AI underlines, it emphasizes that all aspects or components of something are being considered.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

40%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a whole of" is a phrase used to convey completeness or a comprehensive perspective. While grammatically sound, as Ludwig AI indicates, its usage should be deliberate, ensuring it adds value rather than sounding redundant. Found primarily in News & Media, Science and Academia, it signals inclusivity, making it suitable when emphasizing a comprehensive approach. Remember to consider context and available alternatives to optimize clarity and conciseness in your writing. The phrase works well when emphasizing total scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an entirety of

Stresses the completeness of something. It's a slightly more formal phrasing.

a body of

Refers to a collection of related items, often in the context of information or work.

a collection of

Focuses on the gathering of multiple items rather than a single entity.

a group of

Highlights a set of individual entities considered together.

a range of

Emphasizes diversity and variety within a set, not necessarily the entirety.

an array of

Implies a structured or organized set of items.

an assortment of

Suggests a diverse and varied collection.

a multitude of

Emphasizes the numerous quantity of items.

a number of

Indicates a certain quantity, often unspecified, of items.

a series of

Conveys a sequence or succession of related items.

FAQs

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

You can use "a whole of" to describe something that encompasses all aspects or elements, for example, "The project requires "a whole of government" approach".

What are some alternatives to "a whole of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "the entirety of", "all of", or "the whole of". For instance, instead of "a whole of society approach", you might say "the entirety of society" or "all of society".

Is it always necessary to include "of" after "a whole"?

While "a whole of" is grammatically correct, it's often more concise and natural to use "the whole" or "all" without the "of". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "a whole of government" and "whole-of-government"?

"A whole of government" is a phrase, while "whole-of-government" is a compound adjective often used to describe an approach or strategy. Both refer to involving all parts of the government, but the latter is more concise as an adjective.