Wholley vs. Wholly — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 30, 2024
"Wholley" is an incorrect spelling. The right form is "Wholly," meaning completely or entirely.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Wholley or Wholly
How to spell Wholly?
Wholley
Incorrect Spelling
Wholly
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Remember "whole" as in entire, then simply add "ly."
Think of it as the combination of "whole" + "ly."
Don't be fooled by the silent "e" in "whole." It's dropped in "wholly."
Use mnemonics: "The WHOLE thing is LYing there," emphasizing WHOLE and LY.
"Wholly" has the same number of letters as "entirely," a synonym.
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How Do You Spell Wholly Correctly?
Incorrect: The project was wholley funded by community donations.
Correct: The project was wholly funded by community donations.
Incorrect: Their efforts were wholley focused on achieving the goal.
Correct: Their efforts were wholly focused on achieving the goal.
Incorrect: The idea was wholley his, from start to finish.
Correct: The idea was wholly his, from start to finish.
Incorrect: She was wholley unprepared for the sudden change in weather.
Correct: She was wholly unprepared for the sudden change in weather.
Incorrect: He disagreed wholley with the proposed plan.
Correct: He disagreed wholly with the proposed plan.
Wholly Definitions
Totally, without exception.
She was wholly convinced of his innocence.
To the exclusion of other things.
His attention was wholly on the task.
Completely or fully.
The statement is wholly accurate.
Entirely; fully
The distinction is not wholly clear
She found herself given over wholly to sensation
Completely; entirely
"The old American purposes are still wholly relevant" (John F. Kennedy).
Exclusively; solely.
Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent.
Exclusively and solely.
A creature wholly given to brawls and wine.
In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly.
Nor wholly overcome, nor wholly yield.
To the exclusion of other things; totally; fully.
They employed themselves wholly in domestic life.
To a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly');
He was wholly convinced
Entirely satisfied with the meal
It was completely different from what we expected
Was completely at fault
A totally new situation
The directions were all wrong
It was not altogether her fault
An altogether new approach
A whole new idea
In every part or respect.
The two products are wholly different.
Entirely or fully.
The book was based wholly on facts.
Wholly Meaning in a Sentence
The film was wholly original, unlike anything audiences had seen before.
The company is wholly owned by a single family, maintaining its private status.
She felt wholly responsible for the mix-up and apologized profusely.
The approach was wholly innovative, setting a new standard in the industry.
Their strategy was wholly focused on customer satisfaction.
He was wholly committed to improving his health, changing his diet and exercise routines.
His attention was wholly absorbed by the book, oblivious to his surroundings.
The area was wholly evacuated ahead of the storm, ensuring everyone's safety.
The product was wholly ineffective, failing to deliver on its promises.
The play was wholly engaging, keeping the audience captivated from start to finish.
The building was wholly destroyed in the fire, leaving nothing salvageable.
The artwork was wholly inspired by nature, reflecting its beauty and complexity.
Her performance was wholly impressive, earning her widespread acclaim.
The landscape was wholly transformed by the snowfall, turning everything white.
The decision was wholly mutual, both parties agreeing it was for the best.
His theory was wholly based on years of research and study.
The project was wholly collaborative, requiring input from various departments.
The campaign was wholly successful, achieving all its objectives ahead of schedule.
The meal was wholly vegetarian, catering to all dietary needs.
The victory was wholly unexpected, surprising even the winners themselves.
The book was wholly dedicated to her mentor, acknowledging his influence on her work.
The experience was wholly enjoyable, exceeding all expectations.
Her focus was wholly on the future, ready to leave the past behind.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Wholly?
Derived from "whole," it denotes completeness or entirety, with the "-ly" suffix indicating its adverbial nature.
What is the pronunciation of Wholly?
/ˈhoʊ.li/.
Which vowel is used before Wholly?
It depends on the context, but vowels like "a" or "e" can be used, as in "a wholly new idea" or "an entirely different approach."
What is the verb form of Wholly?
"Wholly" is an adverb, so it doesn't have a verb form.
What is the root word of Wholly?
The root word is "whole."
What is the singular form of Wholly?
"Wholly" is an adverb, and thus doesn't have singular or plural forms.
Which article is used with Wholly?
Either "a" or "an" can precede "wholly" based on the noun that follows.
Is Wholly an adverb?
Yes.
Is Wholly a vowel or consonant?
"Wholly" is a word composed of both vowels and consonants.
Is the Wholly term a metaphor?
No.
Is the word Wholly imperative?
No.
What is the plural form of Wholly?
"Wholly" doesn't have a plural form.
Which conjunction is used with Wholly?
Any conjunction can be used with "wholly" depending on the sentence structure.
Is Wholly a negative or positive word?
Neutral.
Which preposition is used with Wholly?
Prepositions used with "wholly" vary by context. E.g., "wholly of gold," "wholly in favor."
Is Wholly a noun or adjective?
Neither. "Wholly" is an adverb.
Which determiner is used with Wholly?
Determiners such as "this," "that," or "my" can be used, depending on the context.
What is the first form of Wholly?
"Wholly" is an adverb and does not have verb forms.
What is the third form of Wholly?
"Wholly" does not have verb forms.
Is Wholly an abstract noun?
No.
Is Wholly a collective noun?
No.
What is the second form of Wholly?
"Wholly" does not have verb forms.
How is Wholly used in a sentence?
"The team was wholly unprepared for the challenge."
How many syllables are in Wholly?
Two.
How do we divide Wholly into syllables?
Whol-ly.
What is the opposite of Wholly?
Partially.
Is Wholly a countable noun?
No, because "wholly" is not a noun.
What is a stressed syllable in Wholly?
The first syllable, "Whol."
What part of speech is Wholly?
Adverb.
What is another term for Wholly?
Entirely.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
