as a whole

USAGE SUMMARY

'as a whole' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use 'as a whole' to refer to a complete or total thing. For example, you could say "The class did well on the exam, as a whole."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

membership as a whole".

The New York Times

Is finance as a whole?

The Economist

So does Mexico as a whole.

The Economist

America as a whole has fallen behind.

The Economist

Europe as a whole is skeptical.

The New York Times

Americans as a whole will not.

The New York Times

As a whole, the Earth rotates eastward.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Profits as a whole held their own.

Encyclopedia Britannica

So does the sentence as a whole.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The constitution should work as a whole.

The Economist

Pop as a whole still replenishes itself.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a whole" when you want to emphasize that you are considering something in its entirety, not just individual parts. For instance, "The project, as a whole, was a success".

Common error

Avoid using "as a whole" with countable nouns when you intend to refer to individual items. Instead of saying "The students, as a whole, received an A", specify "The student body" or "The class" to emphasize that you are speaking about a collective entity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a whole" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that something is being considered in its entirety or totality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

22%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

13%

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a whole" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase frequently employed to emphasize a comprehensive perspective or consider something in its entirety. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general communication. When aiming to convey that you're evaluating the complete entity rather than its individual components, "as a whole" is a reliable and effective choice. Alternatives such as "on the whole" and "in general" can also be used, depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the whole

Similar to "as a whole" but suggests a balanced consideration of different aspects.

in its entirety

Focuses on completeness and the absence of missing parts.

taken together

Stresses the combined consideration of multiple elements.

overall

Emphasizes a general or comprehensive view, without focusing on individual parts.

viewed comprehensively

Suggests a thorough and all-encompassing perspective.

considered collectively

Highlights the joint assessment of individual components as a group.

in general

Indicates a broad statement that may not apply to every specific case.

as a group

Focuses on elements being regarded and functioning together.

in aggregate

Implies summation or combination for a total assessment.

all things considered

Indicates a final judgment after taking everything into account.

FAQs

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

Use "as a whole" to indicate that you are considering something in its entirety rather than its individual parts. For example: "The company "as a whole" benefited from the new marketing strategy."

What are some alternatives to "as a whole"?

You can use alternatives such as "in its entirety", "overall", or "on the whole" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "as a whole"?

It is appropriate to use "as a whole" when you want to emphasize a comprehensive view or consider something in its totality, rather than focusing on specific components. For example, "The team "as a whole" contributed to the project's success."

Is there a difference between "as a whole" and "in general"?

Yes, while both phrases indicate a broad perspective, "as a whole" implies considering something in its complete form, whereas "in general" suggests a broad statement that may not apply to every specific instance. "The system "as a whole" needs an upgrade" versus "In general, the weather is pleasant here".