wholly improper

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wholly improper" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is completely inappropriate or unacceptable in a given context. Example: "The behavior exhibited during the meeting was wholly improper and did not reflect the values of our organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Nevertheless, in 1970, after he had stopped a case to tell a defence lawyer that his client should have pleaded guilty, the court of appeal commented that his outburst had been "wholly improper".

The Guardian

Committee chairman Keith Vaz said: "The impact of the conduct of undercover officers on the women with whom they had relationships has been devastating, and it represents a wholly improper degree of intrusion by the state into the lives of individuals".

Independent

"This morning we learn of a wholly improper attempt to lean on members of an independent select committee of this House by Mr Duncan Smith and his parliamentary team to try to put the blame on the permanent secretary".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That's totally improper".

The New York Times

"He is wholly wrong.

Independent

They were not wholly wrong.

The Economist

He was not wholly wrong.

The New York Times

The European referendum will offer the electorate a wholly inadequate, even improper, choice, between staying in on the Tories' terms or quitting.

The Guardian

The newspaper has determined that Monsignor Henneberry said no such thing and believes that the false assertion was wholly the product of improper editorial manipulation... Though the paper has issued two prominent apologies, one major issue remains: the public doesn't know who or what caused the paper to fabricate this controversy.

Huffington Post

"The Commission considered his admitted remarks, in the context in which they were made, were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate," said Peter Griffiths, chairman of the disciplinary panel.

The New York Times - Sports

They said his refusal to acknowledge that the search was improper or commit that it would never happen again "is wholly unacceptable behavior in a democracy".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wholly improper" to express a strong disapproval or condemnation of an action, decision or behavior.

Common error

While "wholly improper" is grammatically correct, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation, as it may sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "totally wrong" or "completely out of line".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly improper" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, expressing a strong degree of disapproval or unacceptability. As seen in Ludwig, it describes actions or behaviors considered entirely inappropriate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wholly improper" is a valid and usable expression in English, primarily employed to convey strong disapproval or unacceptability. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it denotes that something is entirely inappropriate. While effective, it's important to consider the formality of the situation and choose more casual alternatives when appropriate. The provided examples from Ludwig demonstrate its application in various scenarios where strong censure is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely inappropriate

Emphasizes the total lack of suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or situation.

totally unacceptable

Highlights the complete lack of permissibility or approval for something.

entirely unsuitable

Focuses on the complete lack of fitness or appropriateness for a particular situation.

utterly wrong

Stresses the complete lack of correctness or morality.

patently incorrect

Highlights that something is obviously and undeniably wrong.

thoroughly reprehensible

Emphasizes the high degree of disapproval and condemnation.

absolutely out of line

Indicates that something has crossed acceptable boundaries of behavior or conduct.

blatantly unethical

Stresses the obvious lack of moral principles and values.

flagrantly inappropriate

Indicates a conspicuously or obviously unsuitable action or behavior.

categorically impermissible

Emphasizes that something is strictly prohibited and not allowed under any circumstances.

FAQs

How to use "wholly improper" in a sentence?

You can use "wholly improper" to describe actions or behaviors that are completely unacceptable. For example, "The behavior exhibited during the meeting was wholly improper and did not reflect the values of our organization".

What can I say instead of "wholly improper"?

You can use alternatives like "completely inappropriate", "totally unacceptable", or "entirely unsuitable" depending on the context.

Is "wholly improper" formal or informal?

"Wholly improper" leans towards the formal side. In informal settings, consider alternatives like "totally wrong" or "completely out of line" for a more relaxed tone.

What's the difference between "wholly improper" and "partially improper"?

"Wholly improper" suggests that something is entirely unacceptable, while "partially improper" means that something is improper to some extent but not completely.