a half hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a half hours" is not correct in written English.
The correct expression should be "half an hour" or "one and a half hours" depending on the context. Example: "The meeting will last for half an hour."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Twelve and a half hours.

The New Yorker

"Two and a half hours from London!

BBC

— nearly five and a half hours.

The New York Times - Arts

It lasted one and a half hours.

The Guardian

TOTAL TIME -- Two and a half hours.

The New York Times

"They took two and a half hours.

The New York Times - Food

It was five and a half hours.

The New York Times - Magazine

In total, Sunday's mission lasted five and a half hours.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Three-and-a-half hours fly by.

The Guardian

For two-and-a-half hours Mr Elmi faced questions.

Independent

We talked for two-and-a-half hours.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "half an hour" for 30 minutes or "one and a half hours" for 90 minutes to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "hours" after "half" because "half" refers to a portion of a single hour. Use "half an hour" or "one and a half hours" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a half hours" is typically intended to denote a duration of 30 minutes or 90 minutes, but it grammatically incorrect. As flagged by Ludwig AI, the correct forms are "half an hour" or "one and a half hours". The error lies in the misuse of the plural "hours" with the singular fraction "half."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "a half hours" appears frequently in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct forms are "half an hour" or "one and a half hours". The error stems from the improper use of the plural form "hours" with the singular fraction "half". Although its intended purpose is to express duration, using correct grammar is crucial for clear communication. Remember to use "half an hour" to refer to 30 minutes and "one and a half hours" to refer to 90 minutes. Avoid using "a half hours" in formal or academic writing, as it diminishes credibility despite its prevalence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half an hour

Uses the correct article and singular noun form to refer to 30 minutes.

one and a half hours

Specifies a duration of 90 minutes using correct grammar.

an hour and a half

Expresses the same duration of 90 minutes with a different word order.

30 minutes

Provides the exact duration in minutes instead of using a fractional hour.

90 minutes

Provides the exact duration in minutes for one and a half hours.

hour and a half

Omits 'an' but retains the same meaning, though less formal.

half-hour

Uses a hyphenated adjective to describe something that lasts 30 minutes.

one-and-a-half-hour

Uses a hyphenated adjective to describe something that lasts 90 minutes.

period of 90 minutes

A more formal way to indicate the duration.

a duration of 90 minutes

Emphasizes the length of time using a more formal structure.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a half hours"?

The correct ways to express this duration are "half an hour" or "one and a half hours", depending on whether you're referring to 30 minutes or 90 minutes.

How do I use "half an hour" in a sentence?

You can use "half an hour" in sentences like: "The meeting will last for "half an hour"" or "I only have "half an hour" before my next appointment".

What's the difference between "half an hour" and "one and a half hours"?

"Half an hour" refers to 30 minutes, while "one and a half hours" refers to 90 minutes (or an hour and 30 minutes). They denote different durations.

Are there any alternatives to saying "one and a half hours"?

Yes, you can say "hour and a half" or simply "90 minutes" to mean the same thing as "one and a half hours".