whole of him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whole of him" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to the entirety of someone's being or character. Example: "Despite his flaws, I loved the whole of him – his kindness, sense of humor, and unwavering loyalty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It was that they'd fully seen the florid whole of him and supported him nonetheless.

The New York Times

But on Tuesday night you could hear the whole of him.

The New York Times

"If the Sierra Leone government get a whole of him who is going to let his family know?" he wrote.

The New Yorker

It seemed to her that she saw the whole of him in that moment, the true Maury.

The New Yorker

After the end of his first marriage, never again would he let a woman possess the whole of him.

The Washington Post

"They said this day would never come," he tells a euphoric Iowa crowd, and not just his eyes but the whole of him twinkles, gleams.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Davidson adds, "One thing that he is not going to be able to erase from his Etch A Sketch is the Etch A Sketch — that whole line, that whole picture of him".

The New Yorker

"There's another whole side of him," Knott said.

The New York Times - Sports

My whole memory of him is infused with laughter.

The Guardian - Film

But that was the whole point of him -- he didn't need to.

The New York Times - Magazine

"But Stephanie was a very clever puzzler, and she brought out a whole side of him that was hidden".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whole of him" when you want to emphasize a complete and comprehensive understanding or acceptance of someone, including their flaws and strengths.

Common error

Avoid using "whole of him" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more precise language like "his entirety" or "his complete character" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whole of him" functions as a modifier, typically following a verb like 'see', 'know', or 'love'. It denotes the complete and comprehensive understanding or perception of an individual.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Wiki

14%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whole of him" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to signify the complete and comprehensive understanding or acceptance of an individual. As Ludwig AI highlights, it frequently appears in news and media sources and conveys a neutral register. While its usage is widespread, it is advisable to opt for more formal alternatives, like "his entirety", in professional or academic settings. To summarize, the phrase offers a means to express acceptance and knowledge of all aspects of a person, their strengths and weaknesses included.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirety of him

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

the complete him

Uses 'complete' instead of 'whole', highlighting a fully formed individual.

all of him

A more direct and simple way of saying "whole of him".

the totality of his being

More formal and emphasizes the complete existence of the person.

the sum of his parts

Focuses on the idea that the whole person is made up of individual aspects.

every aspect of him

Highlights each individual part that makes up the whole.

his entire character

Shifts the focus to the individual's personality and moral qualities.

the full picture of him

Emphasizes understanding the person from all angles.

the sum total of who he is

More elaborate way of saying his complete identity.

everything that constitutes him

Focuses on all the elements that make up the individual.

FAQs

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

You can use "whole of him" to describe a complete understanding or acceptance of a person. For example, "She loved the "whole of him", flaws and all."

What is a more formal alternative to "whole of him"?

In more formal contexts, consider using "his entirety" or "his complete being" instead of ""whole of him"".

Is it correct to say "the whole of him" or "whole of him"?

Both "the "whole of him"" and "whole of him" are acceptable, but "whole of him" is more common and often feels more natural.

What does it mean to love the "whole of him"?

To love the ""whole of him"" implies accepting all aspects of someone's personality, character, and history, both good and bad.