about half the time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about half the time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs approximately 50% of the time in a given context or situation. Example: "When I ask for feedback, I receive a response about half the time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

And, oh, yes: About half the time it does not work.

The New York Times

It's deserved about half the time.

The New York Times - Food

He succeeds about half the time.

The New York Times - Food

About half the time he succeeded.

The New York Times - Arts

They are typically right and wrong about half the time.

The Economist

With most teams, they rushed about half the time.

The New York Times - Sports

About half the time, Toma trained by Te'o's side.

The New York Times - Sports

He said echocardiograms came back normal about half the time.

The New York Times

And I'm still listening -- about half the time".

The New York Times

"Going Native" is entertaining, about half the time.

The New York Times

Doctors prescribe antibiotics for outpatients inappropriately about half the time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about half the time" when you want to indicate an approximate frequency without being overly precise. It's suitable for general descriptions and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on vague quantifiers like "about half the time" in situations where precise data or measurements are available. Providing specific numbers or percentages enhances credibility and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about half the time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the frequency of an action or event. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about half the time" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that something occurs approximately 50% of the time. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts. Analysis of Ludwig examples reveals that it appears frequently in News & Media and Scientific sources, reflecting its broad applicability. For situations requiring greater precision, alternatives such as "50% of the time" or "approximately half the time" may be more suitable. Remember to avoid overusing vague quantifiers when precise data is available.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fifty percent of the time

A more formal and direct way of stating "about half the time".

approximately 50% of the time

Replaces the descriptive "about half" with a precise numerical percentage.

nearly half the time

Similar to "close to half the time", suggesting an approximation slightly below the exact halfway point.

close to half the time

Indicates an approximation that is near, but not necessarily exactly, half.

in approximately 50% of instances

Formalizes the expression using "instances" instead of "time".

around half the occasions

Substitutes "time" with "occasions", emphasizing specific instances rather than a general period.

on average, 50% of the time

Introduces the concept of an average to highlight a typical frequency.

half the time, more or less

Adds a degree of uncertainty with "more or less", making it slightly less precise.

roughly half the duration

Focuses on the temporal aspect, replacing "time" with "duration".

in almost every other instance

Uses "almost every other" to approximate half, implying a slightly less consistent frequency.

FAQs

What does "about half the time" mean?

The phrase "about half the time" means something happens approximately 50% of the time, indicating an estimated frequency.

How can I use "about half the time" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the frequency of an event. For example, "About half the time, I take the bus to work".

Which is more precise, "about half the time" or "50% of the time"?

"50% of the time" is more precise. "About half the time" implies an approximation, while the former is exact.

What are some alternatives to "about half the time"?

Alternatives include "approximately half the time", "roughly 50% of the time", or "nearly half the time".