■as a whole 有兩個用法：　　

一是表示“作為整體”(=as one thing or piece and not as separate parts)。如：　　

We must consider these matters as a whole, not one by one. 我們必須通盤而不是一件件地孤立地考慮這些事情。　　

Is the collection going to be divided up or sold as a whole? 這批收藏品是零賣還是一起賣？

We must consider these matters as a whole, not one by one. 我們必須通盤地而不是一件一件孤立地來考慮這些事情。

二是表示“一般說來，大體上”(=in general)。如：　　

The population as a whole is / are in favour of the reform. 全體人民普遍擁護(hù)改革。　　

People as a whole don’t do things like that. 一般說來，人們不會做那種事。

■on the whole 總的說來，大體上，基本上，一切都考慮在內(nèi)(=generally, in general, considering everything)。如：　　

On the whole I like his plan. 總的說來，我喜歡他的計(jì)劃。　　

His work is good on the whole. 他的工作基本上還是好的。　　

On the whole, I am in favour of the proposal. 總的來說，我贊成這個提議。

On the whole, I think he was quite right to act as he did. 總的來說，我認(rèn)為他那樣做是對的。

On the whole he is a nice person to work with except that he is careless. 總的說來，他是個很好共事的人，只是有些粗心。　　

■也就是說，兩者在表示 in general 之義時，是一致的，可以通用。但若表示“作為整體”(=as one thing or piece and not as separate parts)，則只能用 as a whole。