Cool MateAltogether vs Wholly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Altogether
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Wholly
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)C1adverb
Most formal: WhollyMost common: Altogether
| Altogether | Wholly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɔːltəˈɡeðər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhəʊlli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Completely or in total. | Completely or entirely. |
| Example | The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. | wholly inappropriate behaviour |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | altogether now, altogether different, altogether combined | wholly owned, wholly different, wholly inadequate |
| Antonyms | partially, separately | partially, incompletely, halfway |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'all together', which means everyone or everything gathered., Omitting it in sentences where emphasis on total is needed., Using it in a place where 'completely' would be better. | Confused with 'holy' or 'holey'., Omitting the word when it's necessary for emphasis., Misusing it in informal contexts where simpler words would work better. |
| Usage notes | Use 'altogether' when you want to emphasize a total amount. Avoid in very formal writing; 'in total' might be better. | Often used in formal writing or speech. It is appropriate when emphasizing totality, but less commonly used in everyday conversation. |
Frequently asked questions: Altogether vs Wholly
What's the difference between Altogether and Wholly?
Altogether: Completely or in total. Wholly: Completely or entirely.
Which is more formal: Altogether and Wholly?
Wholly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Altogether and Wholly?
Altogether is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Altogether and Wholly?
Wholly is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Altogether and Wholly the same CEFR level?
Altogether: B2, Wholly: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Altogether and Wholly?
Altogether: adverb, Wholly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Altogether: The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. Wholly: wholly inappropriate behaviour
Can I use Altogether and Wholly interchangeably?
Not always. Altogether and Wholly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.