a half times

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a half times" is not correct in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when trying to express a multiplication of a quantity by 0.5 or one-half. Example: "If you have 10 apples, a half times that would be 5 apples."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

And repeat three and a half times.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It multiplied the high estimate two and a half times.

The New York Times - Arts

Democrats are about one-and a half times as likely.

The Economist

[A reported $20m£12m2m).] DW: One and a half times.

The Guardian - Film

"It would cost us two and a half times more".

The New York Times

That's almost two and a half times the average of other advanced nations.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

one-and-a half times the room temperature".

The New York Times

Even in Germany, it is two-and-a-half times.

Independent

Google trades at five-and-a-half times its sales.

The New Yorker

It grew from one-and-a-half times the adult rate in 1989, to more than three-and-a-half times the adult rate in 2005.

Independent

By 2010 that rate had risen nearly three-and-a-half times.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing proportions, always use grammatically correct phrases such as "half of" or "one and a half times" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "a half times"; instead, use "half of" or "0.5 times" for better grammatical accuracy. This helps prevent misinterpretations and maintains a professional tone in writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a half times" functions as a multiplier or proportional indicator, attempting to express a fraction or percentage of a quantity. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically questionable. The examples show its use in various contexts, but correctness is disputed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

25%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a half times" appears frequently across various sources, including news and academic texts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that using phrases like "half of" or "0.5 times" is more appropriate and accurate. To ensure clarity and credibility in writing, avoid "a half times" and opt for its grammatically sound alternatives. Although common, its incorrectness detracts from professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Half of

A simpler and more common way of expressing the same proportion.

One half times

Specifies 'one half' instead of just 'a half', correcting a potential grammatical issue.

Fifty percent of

Similar to "half of", but uses percentage instead.

0.5 times

Uses a decimal representation for half, making it mathematically explicit.

Reduced by half

Emphasizes the reduction aspect, suitable for contexts where decrease is central.

Multiplied by one half

Rephrases as a multiplication operation by 'one half', improving clarity.

A factor of one half

Uses mathematical terminology for a precise specification of the multiplication factor.

One-and-a-half times

This alternative shows how similar phrases work when written correctly.

Increased by fifty percent

Focuses on the percentage increase, offering a different perspective.

Decreased by fifty percent

Mirrors the above but for a decrease, adding versatility.

FAQs

How can I correctly express "a half times" in a sentence?

Instead of "a half times", use phrases like "half of", "0.5 times", or "one half times" for accurate grammar. For example, instead of "a half times the price", say "half of the price".

What are some alternatives to "a half times" that sound more natural?

More natural alternatives include "half of", "fifty percent of", or "reduced by half", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between saying "a half times" and "one half times"?

While both aim to express the same proportion, "one half times" is grammatically more correct. However, "half of" is generally preferred for simplicity and clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "one-and-a-half times", and how does it differ from "a half times"?

"One-and-a-half times" is used to indicate a quantity increased by 50%, whereas "a half times" (though grammatically questionable) attempts to indicate 50% of a quantity. Use "one-and-a-half times" for increases and "half of" for proportions.