about half of all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about half of all" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a quantity or proportion that is approximately fifty percent of a total group or category. Example: "In the survey, about half of all respondents indicated that they preferred online shopping over in-store shopping."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They employ about half of all nongovernmental workers.

The New York Times

So are about half of all births in Scandinavia.

The Economist

About half of all people do it contagiously.

The New York Times

The government generally pays for about half of all vaccinations.

The New York Times - Health

Only about half of all children attend primary school.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Today about half of all tribes run gambling operations.

The Economist

About half of all lymphocytes are T cells.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The two companies serve about half of all cable households.

The New York Times

Cinemex theaters draw about half of all Mexico City's moviegoers.

The New York Times

That is about half of all American home mortgages.

The New York Times

Manufactured goods account for about half of all UK exports.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "about half of all", ensure that the context provides a clear total or reference group to which the 'half' applies. For example, "About half of all students passed the exam" is clear, while "About half of all" alone is ambiguous.

Common error

Avoid using "about half of all" without specifying what the 'all' refers to. Saying "About half of all is sufficient" lacks clarity; clarify with something like "About half of all respondents found the survey sufficient."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about half of all" functions as a quantifying expression, indicating an approximate proportion. It modifies a noun to specify that roughly 50% of the referenced group is being considered. Ludwig provides multiple examples showcasing this function across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about half of all" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that approximately 50% of a group or category is being discussed. As Ludwig AI highlights, it functions as a quantifying expression with a neutral formality, making it suitable for diverse contexts ranging from scientific reports to news articles. While alternatives like "approximately half of all" or "roughly half of all" exist, the key is ensuring clarity by specifying the reference group. Using "about half of all" effectively requires providing context to avoid ambiguity and ensure the reader understands what the 'all' refers to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately half of all

This alternative uses "approximately" for a slightly more formal tone.

roughly half of all

This alternative uses "roughly" for a more casual tone.

around half of all

This alternative uses "around" to indicate an approximate quantity.

close to half of all

This alternative suggests the quantity is near 50 percent.

nearly half of all

This alternative uses "nearly" to specify the quantity is just below 50 percent.

just under half of all

This alternative emphasizes the quantity being slightly less than 50 percent.

in the vicinity of half of all

This alternative uses more verbose language to indicate an approximate quantity.

in the neighborhood of half of all

This alternative is similar to "in the vicinity of", but slightly more informal.

fifty percent of all

This alternative replaces "about half" with the explicit percentage.

one in two

This alternative uses a ratio instead of a percentage.

FAQs

How can I use "about half of all" in a sentence?

Use "about half of all" when you want to express that approximately 50% of a group or category is being discussed. For instance, "About half of all employees participated in the training."

What phrases are similar to "about half of all"?

Alternatives to "about half of all" include "approximately half of all", "roughly half of all", or "nearly half of all". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and precision.

Is there a difference between "about half of all" and "almost half of all"?

"About half of all" suggests an approximation close to 50%, while "almost half of all" indicates a value slightly less than 50%. The difference is subtle but can affect the perceived accuracy.

Can I use "around half of all" instead of "about half of all"?

Yes, "around half of all" is a perfectly acceptable substitute for "about half of all". Both convey a similar meaning of approximation. The best choice depends on personal preference.