Whole vs Hole: What's the Difference?
What's the Difference?
Whole" means entire, while "hole" is used to mean a gap or opening.
Memory Tip: whole = complete thing, hole = empty space
whole starts with /hwoʊl/, hole starts with /hoʊl/
whole /hoʊl/
adjectiveComplete or entire, with no parts missing.
Example:
She ate the whole cake by herself.
Common patterns:
whole number
whole world
whole
nounA "whole" is something that is complete and not divided into parts.
Example:
She ate the whole cake by herself.
Common patterns:
the whole thing
the whole world
a whole lot
hole /hoʊl/
nounA hole is an empty space in something.
Example:
The dog dug a hole in the garden to hide its bone.
Common patterns:
a hole in the ground
a hole in my shirt
Common Mistakes
She ate the hole cake by herself.
She ate the whole cake by herself.
The word 'whole' is used to indicate that she ate the entire cake.
Be careful not to step in the whole in the ground.
Be careful not to step in the hole in the ground.
The word 'hole' refers to the gap or opening in the ground.
Quick Practice
0/3 correct1. She ate the ____ cake by herself.
2. She ate the ____ cake by herself.
3. The dog dug a ____ in the garden to hide its bone.
Other Confusing Words
Never confuse whole / hole again
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