On the home page we are displaying a single picture of what is, in effect, a satisfied customer, along with the first 50 words or so of that customer's testimonial. Below those words it says "Read the whole story..." If you click on [Read the whole story] , a pop-up box opens and you can see the picture together with the entire story (2-300 words or so).
My question is, would "Read the ENTIRE story..." be better than "Read the WHOLE story"?
My question is, would "Read the ENTIRE story..." be better than "Read the WHOLE story"?
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Whole vs. entire
Fri, April 27, 2007 - 2:55 PMWell, "whole" is based on Anglo-Saxon, and "entire" is based on French. I'm pretty sure that "good style" is to prefer the Anglo-Saxon over the French. Anglo-Saxon-based words are perceived to be plainer and more straightforward, thus better. (See Fowler Chapter 1: www.bartleby.com/116/101.html)
Also, "the whole story" is a common phrase. "The entire story" sounds awkward. -
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Re: Whole vs. entire
Fri, April 27, 2007 - 2:56 PMOK, try www.bartleby.com/116/101.html
Tribe added the closing ")" to my hyperlink, thus breaking it.
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Re: Whole vs. entire
Wed, May 2, 2007 - 4:19 PMClearly, "Read the WHOLE ENTIRE story" would be best.
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Re: Whole vs. entire
Thu, May 24, 2007 - 9:12 AMI always prefer the word 'entire' over 'whole' because I simply don't like the word 'whole'!
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Re: Whole vs. entire
Thu, July 5, 2007 - 6:27 PMhmmm.
"entire" implies "each part, not skipping around"
"whole" sounds more like "not stopping at halfway"
my intuition says it's a subtle difference...
