a wholly different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a wholly different" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize a significant distinction or contrast between two things. Example: "After studying abroad for a year, I returned home to find that everything was a wholly different experience. The city had changed, my friends had grown, and I had a new outlook on life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a wholly different environment".

The New York Times - Magazine

This is of a wholly different order.

The Guardian

"That's a wholly different matter," Clegg said.

The Guardian

But this time, it's in a wholly different context.

The Washington Post

The Book, though, is a wholly different thing.

The New York Times

But Hudson County's power is of a wholly different order.

The New York Times

To enter a wholly different realm, empathy characterizes certain sadists.

The New Yorker

"It's a wholly different approach than that for ancient archaeology.

The Guardian

"It's just a wholly different team," Rodriguez said.

The New York Times - Sports

But after Yellow Submarine, it was a wholly different world.

The Guardian - Film

However, that requires a wholly different style of government".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a wholly different" to highlight a stark contrast or complete change from a previous state or idea. It adds emphasis and clarity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a wholly different" when a simple "different" suffices. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily emphatic or unnatural in contexts where a subtle distinction is intended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a wholly different" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and used to emphasize a significant distinction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a wholly different" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its main function is to emphasize a significant or complete distinction. It is suitable for a variety of contexts, ranging from news articles and scientific papers to business communications. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse in situations where a simple "different" would suffice. Related phrases include "an entirely different" and "a completely different", offering similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an entirely different

Replaces "wholly" with "entirely", keeping the emphasis on complete difference but is slightly more common.

a completely different

Substitutes "wholly" with "completely", resulting in a phrase with almost identical meaning and impact.

a fundamentally different

Emphasizes that the difference is at a basic or essential level.

a totally different

Similar to "completely different" but may sound slightly less formal.

a radically different

Suggests a more extreme or transformative difference.

an altogether different

Emphasizes a complete change, potentially unexpected or surprising.

a distinctly different

Highlights the clear and recognizable nature of the difference.

a markedly different

Indicates a difference that is easily noticeable or significant.

a substantially different

Implies a considerable or significant difference in magnitude or degree.

a significantly different

Highlights the importance or consequence of the difference.

FAQs

How can I use "a wholly different" in a sentence?

Use "a wholly different" to emphasize a strong contrast or complete change. For example, "The new policy represents "a wholly different" approach to healthcare."

What phrases can I use instead of "a wholly different"?

You can use alternatives like "an entirely different", "a completely different", or "a fundamentally different" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "a wholly different" or "a completely different"?

"A wholly different" and "a completely different" are very close in formality. "Wholly" might be perceived as slightly more formal in some contexts, but the difference is minimal.

What's the difference between "a wholly different" and "a slightly different"?

"A wholly different" indicates a complete or major change or contrast, while "a slightly different" indicates a minor or subtle change.