almost half a point

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost half a point" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing scores, measurements, or ratings that are close to but not quite half of a whole point. Example: "The final exam was graded on a scale of 100, and I missed passing by almost half a point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Germany's shrinking workforce could reduce GDP growth by almost half a point.

The Economist

Indeed, with inflation at 2.4% in June, almost half a point more than the ECB says it will tolerate, an increase now looks much more likely.

The Economist

The market predicts that the Bank of England, which left interest rates unchanged on October 9th, will increase them by almost half a point by the end of 2003.

The Economist

German government bond yields have also jumped by almost half a point over the past month.In this section Tea-time raid Worrying trend The market goes to market Why non-Europeans should care about EMU Fed up Europe's fund phobia Mrs Watanabe, mind your fingers ReprintsSome investors who lost their shirts in 1994 are starting to ask whether this is the start of another global bear market.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Conservatively estimated, that could mean the loss of some 725,000 jobs and a rise in the unemployment rate of almost half-a-percentage point, for a projected rate well above 9 percent next year.

The New York Times

The yield on the March futures contract on the Federal funds rate has plunged almost half a percentage point, to 6percentt in the last two months, signaling that many investors expect the Fed to make two quarter-point cuts in its benchmark interest rate by the end of the first quarter.

The New York Times

It fell 100 points within minutes after the Fed chairman began testifying; while it recovered some of that, it ended down 46.84 points, or almost half a percentage point, at 10,514.57.

The New York Times

If you think of the happiness scale as one to 100, when it is raining people are about half a point less happy if indoors, and almost one and a half points less happy if outdoors.

The Guardian - Tech

On that day, the ten-year Treasury bond was yielding 4.83%, almost half a percentage point above its level at the beginning of December (see chart).

The Economist

Paris-based Total fell almost a percentage point to $66.86 while Italy's Eni fell almost half a percentage point to $61.23.

Forbes

Since then the yield has fallen almost half a percentage point.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost half a point", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes a 'point' to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether it's a percentage point, score point, or other unit of measurement.

Common error

Avoid using "almost half a point" when the actual value is significantly different. Rounding too liberally can mislead the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost half a point" functions as a modifier, typically quantifying a change, difference, or amount. Ludwig AI shows that this is consistent with its use in describing fluctuations in economic indicators, scores, or other measurable scales.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost half a point" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a quantity slightly less than half of a unit, according to Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and business contexts, it provides a neutral and relatively precise way to indicate minor differences. While there are various alternatives like ""nearly half a point"" or "just under half a point", ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity and prevent inaccurate rounding. Be aware that the register for this phrase is neutral.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly half a point

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", maintaining the meaning with a slight variation in emphasis.

just under half a point

Uses "just under" to convey that the quantity is slightly less than half a point.

close to half a point

Emphasizes the proximity to half a point, rather than the deficit.

approximately half a point

Replaces "almost" with "approximately", indicating an estimated quantity.

around half a point

Similar to 'approximately', indicating a loose estimation.

slightly less than half a point

More explicitly states that the value is a bit below half a point.

not quite half a point

Highlights that the quantity does not reach half a point.

in the vicinity of half a point

Indicates the quantity is near half a point, possibly a bit more or less.

virtually half a point

Suggests that the difference from half a point is negligible.

approaching half a point

Conveys movement toward the value of half a point.

FAQs

What does "almost half a point" mean?

The phrase "almost half a point" signifies a value that is slightly less than 0.5 of a specified unit, such as a percentage point or a score. It indicates a quantity nearing the halfway mark but not quite reaching it.

How can I use "almost half a point" in a sentence?

You can use "almost half a point" when describing a minor difference or shortfall. For example, "The inflation rate increased by "nearly half a point" this quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "almost half a point"?

Alternatives include "just under half a point", "close to half a point", or "approximately half a point", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "almost half a point" or "nearly half a point"?

"Almost half a point" and ""nearly half a point"" are largely interchangeable. The choice often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations, as they carry very similar meanings.