a whole other (entirely different) issue

"A whole other" reads naturally in speech but often feels redundant or informal in writing. Below are clear rules, many wrong/right pairs, and quick rewrites you can use in work, school, and casual contexts.

Quick answer

"A whole other" is idiomatic in conversation but often flagged as colloquial or mildly redundant in formal writing. Replace it with: "another," "an entirely different," "a completely different," or "a separate" depending on tone.

Speech/dialogue: fine and natural.
Formal writing (reports, essays): prefer "an entirely different," "a completely different," or "a separate."
Casual writing: "another" or "a totally different" keeps tone while reading cleaner.

Core explanation: what's wrong with "a whole other"

"Other" already signals difference. "Whole" adds an intensifier that overlaps with that meaning, producing mild redundancy and a colloquial tone. Editors often replace the phrase with a single precise word or a clear modifier + noun.

"Whole" = complete; "other" = different-together they repeat emphasis.
Acceptable in dialogue and informal copy; avoid in formal documents.
Pick a replacement that matches how strong you want the contrast to be.

Grammar note: nuance and common variants

"A whole different" behaves the same way and is equally informal. "A whole 'nother" mirrors spoken contraction and is nonstandard outside quoted speech. In formal writing, prefer single-word modifiers or precise adverb + adjective combinations.

Prefer: another | an entirely different | a completely different | a separate.
"A whole 'nother" belongs to dialogue or character voice.
Avoid stacking modifiers: don't write "very completely different."

Hyphenation and spacing

Write the phrase as separate words: "a whole other." Do not hyphenate ("whole-other") or mash into one word. The contracted "'nother" uses an apostrophe and is informal.

Correct spacing: a whole other
Incorrect: whole-other or wholeother
Colloquial: a whole 'nother - reserve for speech in quotes or dialogue

Wrong: We hit a whole-other snag during testing.
Right: We hit a separate snag during testing.
Wrong: "I had a whole 'nother plan," she said.
Right: "I had another plan," she said.

Real usage: when "a whole other" is acceptable

Use it in dialogue, casual blogging, social media, or friendly marketing copy. Avoid it in academic papers, grant proposals, legal documents, and formal client communications. If you're quoting someone or writing character voice, it reads naturally.

Good: dialogue, anecdotes, casual emails, conversational blog posts.
Bad: academic essays, formal reports, policy documents, press releases.
If unsure, substitute a neutral alternative ("another") and check tone.

Casual: "I missed the bus and that was a whole other story," she joked.
Work (avoid in minutes): "We lost the budget; staffing is a whole other concern," he said - better as "a separate concern."
School notes: "That's a whole other topic" is fine in notes; in a paper write "a different topic."

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence instead of the phrase alone. Context reveals whether the casual tone is appropriate.

Examples: concrete wrong/right pairs

Targeted wrong/right pairs for work, school, and casual contexts so you can pick the best substitute quickly.

Work

Wrong: That's a whole other issue we need to cover in the Q3 report.
Right: That's a separate issue we need to cover in the Q3 report.
Wrong: We have a whole other client to onboard this month.
Right: We have another client to onboard this month.
Wrong: This metric is a whole other problem compared with conversions.
Right: This metric presents an entirely different problem from conversions.

School

Wrong: That's a whole other chapter in the theory.
Right: That's a completely different chapter in the theory.
Wrong: Her conclusion brought up a whole other perspective.
Right: Her conclusion introduced a different perspective.
Wrong: Midterms are a whole other beast than regular quizzes.
Right: Midterms are a completely different beast from regular quizzes.

Casual

Wrong: That's a whole other story.
Right: That's another story entirely.
Wrong: I had a whole other plan for tonight.
Right: I had a totally different plan for tonight.
Wrong: It's a whole other animal.
Right: It's a completely different animal.

Rewrite help: step-by-step fixes and three pasteable rewrites

Method: (1) Spot "a whole other" or "a whole 'nother." (2) Choose tone: casual / neutral / formal. (3) Substitute from one of three tiers. (4) Read aloud to check rhythm.

Tier A (concise/neutral): another | a different
Tier B (formal/emphatic): an entirely different | a completely different | a separate
Tier C (casual/voice): another story entirely | a totally different

Rewrite:
Original: "That's a whole other problem." → "That's a completely different problem."
Rewrite:
Original: "We ran into a whole other snag." → "We encountered another snag."
Rewrite:
Original: "It's a whole other issue altogether." → "It's an entirely separate issue."

Memory trick: how to remember replacements

Use the A-S-E trick: Another (short), Separate (organizational), Entirely (strong). Ask: short / organize / emphasize? Pick the matching replacement.

A = Another - quick swap for casual or neutral sentences.
S = Separate - use when you mean a different category.
E = Entirely / Entirely different - for the strongest formal contrast.

Similar mistakes to watch for

These patterns also create informal or redundant phrasing. Swap to a single precise word or a clear modifier + noun.

Don't say "completely unique" - unique already implies one-of-a-kind. Use "unique" or, sparingly, "truly unique."
Avoid stacked intensifiers: "very completely different" → "completely different."
Prefer "different from" in formal writing rather than "different than."

Wrong: That's completely unique to our region.
Right: That's unique to our region.
Wrong: This is very completely different from last year.
Right: This is completely different from last year.

FAQ

Is "a whole other" grammatically incorrect?

Not strictly incorrect in speech, but it's colloquial and often redundant. In formal writing, use clearer alternatives like "another," "a separate," or "an entirely different."

Can I use "a whole 'nother" in fiction or dialogue?

Yes. Use "a whole 'nother" to capture authentic speech in dialogue or character voice, but avoid it in narration or formal prose.

What's the difference between "a whole other" and "a whole different"?

They function the same way in informal speech and are both best avoided in formal writing. Replace them with "a completely different" or "an entirely different."

When should I choose "another" instead of "an entirely different"?

"Another" is concise and neutral-use it when the contrast is mild or you need brevity. Choose "an entirely different" for strong, formal emphasis.

How do I fix sentences that stack intensifiers?

Drop the redundant intensifier or replace the pair with a precise adjective. Example: "a whole completely different issue" → "a completely different issue."

Quick practice

Next time you spot "a whole other," try the A-S-E trick: Another / Separate / Entirely. If you want a second opinion, paste the sentence into the checker above and test alternatives.