the whole of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the whole of' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the entirety of something and can be used in many different contexts. For example: "The whole of the city was blanketed in snow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The whole of Europe?

Independent

It becomes the whole of the music".

Independent

That was the whole of the story.

The New York Times

We speak for the whole of Nigeria".

Independent

The whole of your body is involved.

The Guardian - Arts

The whole of Magda travelled through loftiness.

The New Yorker

What, patrolling the whole of cyberspace?

Independent

The whole of Africa burst into song.

Independent

"His proposal hurt the whole of France.

The New York Times

Bereft, the whole of England grieves:.

The New Yorker

It's not the whole of it.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the whole of" to emphasize the comprehensive nature of something, especially when contrasting it with individual parts or elements.

Common error

Avoid using "entire" alongside "the whole of", as it creates redundancy. Choose one or the other for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the whole of" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying the entirety of a noun. According to Ludwig, the phrase is used correctly in a variety of contexts. It emphasizes completeness and inclusiveness, similar to phrases like "all of" or "the entirety of".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the whole of" is a versatile phrase used to denote the entirety of something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. It's essential to avoid redundancy by not pairing it with similar words like "entire". While generally neutral in tone, its precise meaning allows for strong emphasis, making it suitable for a wide array of writing scenarios. When aiming for diverse expression, alternatives like "the entirety of" or "all of" can be used. Being a frequent phrase, according to Ludwig, in the News & Media context, mastering the use of "the whole of" will make your writing more precise and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the entirety of

Replaces "whole" with "entirety", emphasizing completeness.

the totality of

Substitutes "whole" with "totality", highlighting the complete sum.

all of

A more concise way to express the same concept.

the complete extent of

Emphasizes the full scope or range.

the entirety

A shortened version, omitting "of" but implying the same meaning.

the sum total of

Focuses on the accumulation of all parts.

the full scope of

Highlights the breadth and reach of something.

everything within

Indicates inclusion of all elements within a defined boundary.

the aggregate of

Stresses the combined elements forming the whole.

the integral of

Highlights the fact that no part is missing.

FAQs

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

Use "the whole of" to refer to an entire entity or group, as in, "The conflict affects "the whole of Ukraine"".

What are some alternatives to using "the whole of"?

You can replace "the whole of" with phrases like "the entirety of", "all of", or "the totality of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "whole of the" instead of "the whole of"?

While understandable, "the whole of" is the more standard and grammatically accepted phrasing. "Whole of the" might sound awkward or less formal.

What's the difference between "the whole of" and "the majority of"?

"The whole of" refers to 100% of something, while "the majority of" refers to more than 50%. They are not interchangeable when precision is needed; for example, consider the sentence: "the majority of people like ice cream" vs "the whole of people like ice cream".