a half of those

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a half of those" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used when referring to a portion of a specific quantity or group, but it should be phrased as "half of those" without the article "a." Example: "Half of those cookies were eaten at the party."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

(When a third to a half of those stores have been depleted, death usually ensues).

The New Yorker

One and a half of those men did not work out.

The New York Times

Public libraries are enormously popular and are visited by a third of the population, and by almost a half of those living in the most deprived areas.

The Guardian - Opinion

Polling from YouGov suggests that only around a half of those who voted to remain believe the government should hold a second referendum.

The Guardian - Opinion

The stadium's footprint would take up 10 to 13 acres, Garber said, adding that six and a half of those acres would replace the Fountain of Planets, a site that is currently fenced off.

The New York Times - Sports

Marlyn McGrath Lewis, its director of admissions, said that 1 in 5 of last year's 19,609 applicants submitted ACT scores, but a third to a half of those offered SAT scores as well.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

I've had six operations in four-and-a-half years – and two-and-a-half of those years were in rehab.

The Guardian - Sport

In no universe is three days enough time to get users hooked on a new music service, particularly when it takes two-and-a-half of those days to figure out how the hell it works.

TechCrunch

Weary from 18 years in exile, two-and-a-half of those in the confused haze of the Australian immigration detention system, he explains why he has chosen to talk.

The Guardian

They evaluated those who died from coronary heart disease and discovered that those who had two or more orgasms a week died at a rate half of those who had orgasms less than once a month.

Huffington Post

On Air Gini, those eight most-valued passengers three and a half percent of those on board get thirty five percent of the available seating space.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a half of those" in formal writing. The grammatically correct alternative is "half of those."

Common error

The common mistake is including the article "a" before "half". Always omit the "a" for grammatical correctness when referring to a proportion of a group.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a half of those" functions as a prepositional phrase, attempting to quantify a portion of a previously mentioned group. However, it's grammatically incorrect. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the correct form is "half of those."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a half of those" might appear in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "half of those". Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Although it appears in both news and scientific articles, it's best to avoid using it in formal writing. Consider using alternatives like "one half of those" or "50% of those" for greater precision. Remember to omit the article "a" for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half of those

Removes the unnecessary article "a", resulting in grammatically correct and standard usage.

one half of those

Replaces "a half" with "one half", providing a more formal and precise alternative.

50% of those

Uses a percentage to express the proportion, offering a concise and numerically explicit substitute.

approximately half of those

Adds a degree of imprecision to the quantity, useful when an exact figure is unknown or unnecessary.

close to half of those

Similar to "approximately half", this phrase uses different wording to express near-half quantities.

a portion of those

Substitutes "a half" with "a portion", providing a more general and less specific indication of quantity.

around half of those

Another way to express approximation, using casual language.

some of those

Offers a vague but grammatically sound substitute when the precise proportion is unimportant.

a majority of those

Indicates more than half, changing the proportion but keeping the general idea of quantity.

a significant number of those

Highlights the quantity's importance, diverging slightly in focus from a simple proportion.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "a half of those"?

No, the grammatically correct way to express this is "half of those". The article "a" is unnecessary and makes the phrase incorrect.

What is a more formal alternative to "a half of those"?

A more formal alternative is "one half of those". This phrasing is more precise and suitable for academic or technical contexts.

Can I use percentages instead of "a half of those"?

Yes, using a percentage like "50% of those" is a clear and concise alternative, especially in data-driven or analytical writing.

Are there other ways to express an approximate proportion instead of "a half of those"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "approximately half of those", "close to half of those", or "around half of those" to indicate a quantity near to one half.