Half a score

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Half a score" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a period of ten years, often in a more literary or formal context. Example: "Half a score ago, the town was a very different place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Yesterday the Spartans led by just 19-17 athehalfalf, a score just short of the intermission score in the 1941 championship game when Wisconsin was ahead by 21-17.

The New York Times - Sports

Throughout the study the uniformity of the assessors' scoring was monitored and by the end of the course, average scores for each category were all within half a score.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They get the ball at halftime, so finishing this half with a score will put them in perfect position to win this game.

The New York Times

Monaghan's highly-rated prospect Jack McCarron had another good day, landing a couple of frees in the first half and a score from play in the second.

BBC

The Golden Bears made another field goal to end the first half with a score of 21 6, in Maryland's favor.

Wikipedia

The Panthers netted their lone goal of the first half on a score from Isaac Harris with 3 48 remaining in the second quarter.

Los Angeles Times

Schools are scored on 12 separate measures in total, to provide an overall result, although two of the measures only count for half a point score.

BBC

Students who studied Latin at least half a year scored 555 on the verbal and 549 on the math.

The New York Times

Such recognition represented a remarkable turnaround for a player who had previously gone a year and a half without scoring a single league goal for the club.

The Guardian - Sport

"They went a quarter and a half without scoring a single point, then in the last five or six minutes of the game they put up nearly 30 points between them.

Vice

They just need half a chance to score the goal.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a classic or literary style, "Half a score" can add a touch of elegance, especially when referring to a decade or a ten-year period. However, be mindful of your audience, as it might not be universally understood.

Common error

Avoid using "Half a score" if your audience is unfamiliar with the term as meaning ten. Using simpler and more direct alternatives, like "ten" or "decade", can prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Half a score" functions as a noun phrase, quantifying a period or amount. Ludwig AI confirms its usage, though infrequent, in reputable sources. It typically substitutes for simpler terms like "ten" or "decade".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Half a score" means ten and is used to denote a quantity or period, often a decade. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it's grammatically correct but relatively rare, primarily appearing in News & Media and Science contexts. While "ten years" or "a decade" are more common, "Half a score" adds a touch of formality or literary flair. Be aware of your audience when using this phrase to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ten years

Directly translates the numerical value of "Half a score".

A decade

Synonymous term referring to a period of ten years.

A duration of 10 years

More formal and verbose way of expressing "ten years".

A temporal segment of 10 years

Highlights the segment in the term temporal. Has more formal tone.

A term of 10 years

Highlights the limited duration of the term.

Five years

Literally represents half of twenty; a more literal interpretation.

A portion of two decades

Explicitly states the fraction and total.

Part of two decades

Describes the span as part of two decades.

A short period

Focuses on the element of time but less specific

A brief span

Emphasizes the brevity and duration of a period.

FAQs

What does "Half a score" mean?

"Half a score" means ten. A score is twenty, so half of that is ten. It's an older expression that isn't used very often now.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "Half a score"?

You can use "Half a score" when you want to sound more formal or literary when referring to the number ten or a decade. However, remember that not everyone will understand this phrase.

What can I say instead of "Half a score"?

You can use alternatives like "ten years" or "a decade", which are more common and easily understood.

Is "Half a score" the same as "Half a dozen"?

No, "Half a score" refers to ten, while "Half a dozen" refers to six. They both represent half of a standard unit, but the units are different.