almost half of

USAGE SUMMARY

"almost half of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to indicate that a large portion of something is close to (but not quite) half of the total. For example, "Almost half of the guests at the party were under the age of 20."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Almost half of Berliners live on benefits.

The Economist

Almost half of them are over 65.

The Economist

Women make up almost half of it.

The Economist

Almost half of Catholics didn't understand Communion.

The New York Times

Almost half of Brazilians are now overweight.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Almost half of the companies are hardware.

TechCrunch

The domain-swapped region encompasses almost half of the protein.

Structure

China produces almost half of ceramic tiles in the world.

Journal of Cleaner Production

Dynamic composition is considered by almost half of the approaches.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Here, almost half of the sample are from Afghanistan.

Journal for Labour Market Research

The gray concretion covers almost half of white ceramic fragment.

Heritage Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost half of", ensure that the context provides sufficient information to understand what the 'whole' represents. For example, "Almost half of the students in the class are proficient in English."

Common error

Avoid using "almost half of" when the actual proportion is significantly different from 50%. If the value is closer to 30% or 70%, consider using phrases like "around a third" or "nearly three-quarters" for better accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost half of" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate that a large portion, close to but less than 50%, is being referenced. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It specifies an approximate quantity, as shown in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

51%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost half of" serves as a versatile quantifier, indicating a proportion slightly below 50%. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and widely accepted in English writing. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When utilizing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines the whole being referenced and avoid it when the actual proportion deviates significantly from 50% to preserve precision. For alternative phrasing, consider options like ""nearly half of"" or ""close to half of"" for subtle variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly half of

Indicates a quantity very close to, but not exactly, half. Has a slightly more formal tone.

close to half of

Suggests a quantity approaching half, with a slightly less precise measurement.

just under half of

Emphasizes that the quantity is slightly below the halfway point.

slightly less than half of

More explicitly states that the quantity is a bit smaller than 50%.

around 45 percent of

Expresses the quantity as a percentage, offering a more numerical perspective.

approximately 40-49% of

Provides a range of percentages, indicating a less specific estimate.

a significant minority of

Focuses on the portion being a notable, but not majority, segment.

a sizable fraction of

Highlights that the quantity is a considerable portion, without specifying closeness to half.

a good portion of

Indicates that the quantity is substantial, with less emphasis on being near half.

in the neighborhood of half of

An informal way to say something is close to half.

FAQs

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

Use "almost half of" to indicate a quantity slightly less than 50%. For example, "Almost half of the participants were female (47.7%)."

What phrases are similar to "almost half of"?

Alternatives include "nearly half of", "close to half of", or "just under half of". The best choice depends on the level of formality and precision required.

Is it acceptable to use "almost half of" in formal writing?

Yes, "almost half of" is acceptable in formal writing. However, for greater precision, consider using percentages (e.g., "45 percent of").

How does "almost half of" differ from "more than half of"?

"Almost half of" indicates a quantity less than 50%, while "more than half of" indicates a quantity greater than 50%. The choice depends on the actual proportion you want to convey.