"a whole different thing" grammatically correct?

Question

Is the expression "a whole different thing" grammatically correct or should it rather be "a wholy different thing"?Peter

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[nq:1]Is the expression "a whole different thing" grammatically correct or should it rather be "a wholy different thing"?[/nq]
"a whole dif'ernt thang"

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[nq:2]Is the expression "a whole different thing" grammatically correct or should it rather be "a wholy different thing"?[/nq]
[nq:1]"a whole dif'ernt thang"[/nq]
Or, "a whole 'nother thang"

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[nq:2]"a whole dif'ernt thang"[/nq]
[nq:1]Or, "a whole 'nother thang"[/nq]
As a German enquirer, Peter probably needs at least one straightforward answer. No, it's not correct. Use "a wholly different thing", though in BrE it would more usually be "an entirely different thing". The use of "whole" in this kind of expression is informal, perhaps regional, AmE.

Alan Jones

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[nq:2]Is the expression "a whole different thing" grammatically correct or should it rather be "a wholy different thing"?[/nq]
[nq:1]"a whole dif'ernt thang"[/nq]
"A whole nother thing."

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[nq:2]Or, "a whole 'nother thang"[/nq]
[nq:1]As a German enquirer, Peter probably needs at least one straightforward answer. No, it's not correct. Use "a wholly different ... usually be "an entirely different thing". The use of "whole" in this kind of expression is informal, perhaps regional, AmE.[/nq]
Depending on context, a "whole different thing" may either be a gramatical error or an attempt (see Martin's and Steve's examples, above) at comic rusticism.
- Shawn (who is prone to using "a completely different thing" when serious, "a whole 'nuther kettle o' fish" when not and "another matter entire" when being falsely literary.)

"Learn all you can. Die smart."
- 1987, Anonymous chalk graffito
University of Michigan, East Quad

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[nq:2]As a German enquirer, Peter probably needs at least one ... in this kind of expression is informal, perhaps regional, AmE.[/nq]
[nq:1]Depending on context, a "whole different thing" may either be a gramatical error or an attempt (see Martin's and Steve's ... different thing" when serious, "a whole 'nuther kettle o' fish" when not and "another matter entire" when being falsely literary.)[/nq]
I think the use of "whole" as an adverb is simply informal American or British English. I include British English because the Compact Oxford English Dictionary at
http://www.askoxford.com/dictionaries/compact oed/?view=uk

contains the following entry for "whole":
"adverb {informal} entirely; wholly: a whole new meaning. "

I would expect the editors of that dictionary to have labeled it as US usage if it was limited to American English.
I couldn't say, however, whether a British speaker would avoid "a whole different thing." For American speech, I'd say it is informal but unremarkable. "A wholly different thing." on the other hand, sounds a bit odd to me. I'd say "an entirely different thing."

Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com

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[nq:2]"a whole dif'ernt thang"[/nq]
[nq:1]"A whole nother thing."[/nq]
Is this the point where some impertinent soul contributes, "And now, for something completely different?"

Mark Perew (Email Removed)
To the world you may be just one person,
but to one person you may be the world. (Source Unknown)

"a whole different thing" grammatically correct?

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