whole time

USAGE SUMMARY

'whole time' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal phrase and is often used to mean all of the time or the entire duration. Example: I've been working on this project the whole time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The whole time.

The New Yorker

"Pretty much the whole time".

The New York Times - Sports

Della slept the whole time.

The New Yorker

"I cried the whole time.

The New York Times

She giggled the whole time.

The New York Times

He's yelling the whole time.

The New York Times - Sports

We complained the whole time.

The New York Times

It stood the whole time.

The New York Times - Books

Laughing the whole time.

The New York Times - Books

Correction: the whole time.

The New Yorker

He's been there the whole time.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whole time" to emphasize the continuous nature of an action or state throughout a defined period. For example: "I was thinking about it the whole time."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions with "whole time". It's generally used without a preposition, or with prepositions like "during" or "throughout" when specifying a longer period. Saying "in the whole time" is usually grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whole time" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate duration or continuity. Ludwig examples show it describing actions occurring continuously, such as "She giggled the whole time" or "I cried the whole time". According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "whole time" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to emphasize the continuity of an action or state throughout a defined period. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's deemed correct and suitable for various writing contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, academia and wikis, it maintains a neutral register suitable for broad audiences. When using this phrase, aim to highlight sustained behaviors or unchanging circumstances, and avoid the incorrect usage of prepositions like "in". Consider more formal alternatives like "entire duration" or "throughout the period" for a more elevated tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the entire time

A more emphatic way of saying "whole time", stressing the completeness of the duration.

entire duration

Replaces "whole time" with a more formal synonym emphasizing the complete length of something.

the complete time

Emphasizes the entirety of the duration involved.

all the while

Emphasizes simultaneous occurrence or continuous action throughout a period.

throughout the period

Highlights the continuity of something happening from the beginning to the end of a specified time.

for the duration

Focuses on something happening or being in effect for the entire length of a specific event or activity.

during the entire period

Similar to "throughout the period", but with a slightly more formal tone.

the entire length

Focuses on the duration, which can be measured or implied from context.

from start to finish

Highlights completeness and sequence, emphasizing that something happened from the beginning until the end.

during that time

More generic alternative to indicate something happened in that specific time frame.

FAQs

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

You can use "whole time" to indicate that something happened continuously or throughout a specific period. For example, "She was laughing the "whole time"" or "They stayed inside the "whole time"".

What's a more formal alternative to "whole time"?

If you need a more formal alternative, you could use phrases like "entire duration", "throughout the period", or "for the duration depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in the whole time"?

While not strictly incorrect, "in the "whole time"" is less common and might sound awkward. It's generally better to use "the "whole time"" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What is the difference between "entire time" and "whole time"?

The phrases "entire time" and "whole time" are largely interchangeable, with "entire time" being a slightly more formal variant. Both indicate the complete duration of something.