Wholy vs. Wholly: The Correct Spellings

In American English, the right spelling is "wholly." This word means "completely" or "entirely." On the other hand, "wholy" is simply an erroneous representation of the same word. The error might arise from how the word sounds when spoken, leading some to mistakenly drop one of the 'l's when writing it down.

To remember the correct spelling of "wholly," you might want to think of the phrase, "It's wholly filled with two 'L's." Associating the word with its fullness and the double 'L' will help ensure you spell it correctly every time. So, the next time you're writing and find yourself hesitating between "wholly" and "wholy," remember the former is wholly correct!

The term "wholly" originates from the Old English word "hal," which means "entire, whole." Over time, the language evolved, and prefixes and suffixes were added, giving rise to words like "wholly." While there are no direct variants of "wholly," it's related to the word "whole," which serves as its root.

In the vast world of English spellings, it's easy to get tangled in the web of similar-sounding words and their varied spellings. Among such pairs, "wholly" and "wholy" stand out. The former is the correct version, while the latter is not.

Incorrect: The project was wholy completed by the volunteers.

Correct: The project was wholly completed by the volunteers.

Incorrect: Wholy devoted to the cause, she worked day and night.

Correct: Wholly devoted to the cause, she worked day and night.

Incorrect: She was wholy responsible for the mistake.

Correct: She was wholly responsible for the mistake.

Incorrect: The team was wholy unprepared for the challenge.

Correct: The team was wholly unprepared for the challenge.

Incorrect: His explanation was not wholy clear to everyone.

Correct: His explanation was not wholly clear to everyone.

Wholly can also mean to the full extent.

Wholly denotes being without exception or qualification.

Wholly means entirely or fully.

Wholly suggests being without mixture or adulteration.

Wholly can indicate being to the exclusion of other things.

Completely; entirely

Exclusively; solely.

Completely and entirely; to the fullest extent.

Exclusively and solely.

In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly.

To the exclusion of other things; totally; fully.

She was wholly committed to her fitness goals.

The city was wholly transformed for the festival.

The decision was wholly his to make.

His attention was wholly focused on the task at hand.

Their strategy was wholly successful in increasing sales.

The book was wholly engaging from start to finish.

The approach was wholly different from what we expected.

She felt wholly satisfied with her meal.

Her performance was wholly remarkable.

The agreement was wholly beneficial to both parties.

The story was wholly believable and compelling.

She was wholly unaware of the surprise waiting for her.

The building was wholly evacuated during the drill.

The movie was wholly based on true events.

The garden was wholly organic, with no chemical pesticides.

The approach to learning here is wholly innovative.

The company is wholly owned by a family.

It was wholly unexpected to see him there.

The project was wholly funded by donations.

The concert was wholly acoustic, with no amplification.

The book is wholly devoted to medieval history.

The effort was wholly collaborative, involving everyone on the team.

He was wholly absorbed in his painting.

The country is wholly surrounded by water.

The team's victory was wholly deserved.

Completely self-sufficient and not influenced or controlled by others.

A completely separate issue or topic.

Completely possessed or controlled by a single entity.

Completely accountable for something, without sharing blame or credit.

Completely unsuitable or unacceptable.

Completely intolerable or not permissible.

Completely new or never having occurred before.

A company that is completely owned by another company.

Fully dedicated or devoted to a cause or task.

Completely content or pleased with the outcome.

Completely deserving respect or admiration.

Completely concur with an opinion or decision.

Entirely devoted to a cause, activity, or goal.

Absolutely required or essential.

Completely new and not derived from something else.

Completely surprising or not anticipated.

Completely not wanted or invited.

Completely engrossed or preoccupied with something.

Completely one of a kind; having no equal or equivalent.

Completely obvious or clear.

Completely derived from nature; not artificial.

Completely unjustified or without basis.

Completely done by one's own free will without coercion.

Completely developed or established.

"Wholly" derives from "whole," indicating something complete or entire in its adverbial form.

Yes, "wholly" can be used to indicate exclusivity or singularity, similar to "solely."

The spelling "wholly" retains the 'll' from "whole" when the "-ly" suffix is added to form the adverb.

In standard American English, "wholy" is not an accepted spelling. Always use "wholly."

"Wholly" pertains to completeness or entirety, while "holy" relates to divinity or sanctity. They may sound similar but have distinct meanings.

"Wholly" is an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to convey the sense of fullness or entirety.

No, "wholly" is the correct spelling in American English, while "wholy" is an incorrect form.

"Wholly" is an adverb derived from the adjective "whole." Other related words include "wholeness."

"Wholly" has been used for centuries, evolving from Old English roots, denoting completeness or entirety.

Often, "wholly" and "completely" can be used interchangeably, though nuances might vary based on context.