the entire class

USAGE SUMMARY

"the entire class" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is most often used to refer to all of the students in a particular course, such as "The entire class was surprised by the surprise quiz."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or perhaps not the entire class.

The New Yorker

The entire class then does the construction.

The New York Times

Teaching with The Times – Read the entire class series.

The New York Times

"The entire class could use them," Ariel Vance-Borland said.

The New York Times

That last comment raised laughter from the entire class.

The New York Times

Social relationships across the entire class spectrum were being transformed.

The Guardian

You can also view the progress of the entire class.

The Economist

He had the entire class build their own Foldscope.

Stanford University

When the entire class has drawn cards, discussion can begin.

University of California, Berkeley

The debates stimulated participation from the entire class.

University of California, Berkeley

Some pairs share with the entire class (Share).

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the entire class" to clearly indicate that you are referring to every student in a specific course or group. This avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "the entire class" when you mean a larger group of students, such as all students in a school or all students in a particular grade level. Be precise with your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the entire class" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun. Ludwig AI data confirms its common usage in academic, journalistic, and general contexts to specify a complete group of students.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

24%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

9%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the entire class" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to all students in a specific group or course. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various writing registers, from news articles to academic papers. While alternatives like "the whole class" or "all the students" exist, "the entire class" offers a clear and concise way to indicate the complete student body in a particular setting. When using the phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the intended scope and avoids overgeneralization. Be specific. Use "the entire class" to clearly indicate that you are referring to every student in a specific course or group. This avoids ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the whole class

Replaces "entire" with "whole", maintaining the same meaning of completeness.

all the students

Substitutes the collective noun "class" with a more explicit description of the group.

every student in the class

Emphasizes each individual member of the class.

the complete student body

Uses more formal language, suitable for official announcements.

the full complement of students

Refers to the total number of students expected or allowed in the class.

the collective

Highlights the group dynamic and shared identity.

the student group

A general term, less specific than "the entire class".

everyone present

Focuses on those who are attending or participating.

the assembled students

Suggests a formal gathering or meeting of the students.

the learning group

Emphasizes the shared activity of learning.

FAQs

How can I use "the entire class" in a sentence?

You can use "the entire class" to refer to all students in a specific course, for example, "The entire class passed the exam", or "The teacher gave "the entire class" extra credit".

What are some alternatives to "the entire class"?

Alternatives include "the whole class", "all the students", or "every student in the class", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "entire of the class"?

No, the correct phrasing is ""the entire class"". The word "of" is not needed and makes the phrase grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "the entire class" and "most of the class"?

"The entire class" refers to all students without exception. "Most of the class" indicates that the majority, but not all, of the students are being referred to.