on the whole vs as a whole

Both "on the whole" and "as a whole" are correct phrases in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "On the whole" is used to indicate a general summary or overall assessment of something, while "as a whole" is used to refer to something in its entirety or as a complete unit.

Last updated: April 07, 2024 • 388 views

on the whole

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a general summary or overall assessment of something.

Use "on the whole" when you want to talk about the general summary or overall assessment of a situation, group, or concept.

Examples:

On the whole, the project was a success.
On the whole, I think we made the right decision.
On the whole, the team performed well.
On the whole, the event was well-organized.
On the whole, the book was enjoyable.

Show examples from the web [+]

England on the whole remained untainted by heresy.
A little queasy but on the whole, wonderful.
Employment policy is important on the whole.
But on the whole, the performance was well done.
Adults, on the whole, are solemn.
It's pretty civilised, on the whole.
I am on the whole quite happy.
She doesn't get enough exercise on the whole.
During his reign, Frederick on the whole behaved as a constitutional monarch.
Christians, on the whole, are 26.5%.
15-19, and reduced xxxii.-xxxiii., on the whole, to its present form.
I nearly gave up on the whole thing.
I got coverage on the whole thing.
Wherever we are, our actions have repercussions on the whole Earth.
And the 11-year-old, one impulse on the whole phrase.
We haven't done anything right on the whole voyage.
The enemy is attacking on the whole front here between Lublin and Brest-Litovsk.
So it could have a negative impact on the whole population.
This is the safest place on the whole ridge.
I think I'm really starting to get a handle on the whole process.

Alternatives:

overall
generally speaking
all in all
by and large
for the most part

as a whole

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to something in its entirety or as a complete unit.

Use "as a whole" when you want to refer to something in its entirety or as a complete unit, without focusing on specific details.

Examples:

The company, as a whole, is doing well.
As a whole, the community is very supportive.
The team, as a whole, needs to improve communication.
As a whole, the project was a success.
The department, as a whole, is responsible for the outcome.

Show examples from the web [+]

I'm talking about the environment as a whole.
Taken as a whole, cats have excellent memories.
Overall, these changes had little effect on the Church as a whole.
The Romantic poets, as a whole, were proponents of natural theology.
Taken as a whole, the antemortem injuries are consistent with domestic abuse.
This may affect one's reading of the film as a whole.
Considered as a whole, the Vastupurushamandala energy vortex whose polarity is the main northeast-southwest axis and that the secondary diagonal southeast-northwest.
A -1 indicates that you were unhappy with the transaction as a whole.
Petitions concerning the EU as a whole took second place.
Solve your problems as a whole, Not as individuals.
Darius wants to see the group as a whole.
Now let's look at the continent as a whole.
It's definitely influenced my world as a whole.
We want peace and prosperity for the world as a whole.
The group, not Lithuanians as a whole.
Our responsibility is to protect the American public as a whole.
But taken as a whole, they are an irrefutable call to action.
You can't count them as a whole person.
I have a dream that Humanity as a whole...
This tree doesn't have any influence on the forest as a whole.

Alternatives:

in its entirety
as an entirety
as a unit
as a complete entity
as a complete unit

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