almost half of the total

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost half of the total" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing quantities or proportions that are close to 50% of a given amount. Example: "The survey results showed that almost half of the total respondents preferred option A over option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

American clients accounted for almost half of the total.

The Economist

Almost half of the total investment is channelled through sports governing bodies.

The Guardian - Sport

He added: "But with Obamacare, that would take government to almost half of the total economy".

The New York Times

A staggering $25 trillion-worth, almost half of the total, has been binned in recent months.

The Economist

China accounted, on average, for almost half of the total export growth of the other East Asian economies last year.

The Economist

On the other hand, materials and energy companies, which together constituted almost half of the total value of the S.&P.

The New York Times

In industrialised regions, almost half of the total food squandered, around 300m tonnes annually, occurs because producers, retailers and consumers discard food that is still fit for consumption.

The Guardian

Apple says the deals it has already secured represent almost half of the total forecasted mobile ad spend in the US for the second half of 2010.

The Guardian - Tech

In 1992, the height of the campaign, about 44,000 people were killed, almost half of the total of 100,000 people who died in the Bosnian war.

The New York Times

The percentage of female workers has risen to almost half of the total labour force, and women have greater representation in the service industry.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Its biggest business is dairy products, which accounted for 2.55 billion guilders of sales in 1997, almost half of the total.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "almost half of the total", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of what the "total" refers to. This prevents ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "almost half of the total" without a clearly defined "total". Ensure the reader understands the basis for calculating the half portion; otherwise, the statement lacks meaning and becomes confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost half of the total" functions as a quantifying expression, specifying an amount that is slightly less than 50% of a whole. It is commonly used to describe proportions and statistics, as supported by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost half of the total" is a common and correct phrase used to indicate a quantity slightly less than 50%. As Ludwig AI shows, it appears frequently in news, scientific literature, and encyclopedias. The phrase serves to provide an approximate quantification, conveying the magnitude of a part in relation to a whole. When employing this phrase, ensure that the "total" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "nearly half of the total" or "approximately half of the total" can be used for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly half of the total

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", indicating a very close approximation.

approximately half of the total

Uses "approximately" to suggest an estimated value.

around half of the total

Employs "around" to convey a general estimation.

close to half of the total

Expresses proximity to half using the phrase "close to".

just under half of the total

Indicates the quantity is slightly less than half.

slightly less than half of the total

More explicitly specifies the quantity as being a bit below 50%.

a little under half of the total

Similar to "slightly less than", but uses "a little" for a minor difference.

not quite half of the total

Uses "not quite" to denote the quantity falls short of being half.

in the vicinity of half the total

Uses "in the vicinity of" to suggest an approximate amount near half.

a substantial portion of the total

More generally indicates a significant, though not precisely half, share.

FAQs

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

You can use "almost half of the total" to describe a proportion that is slightly less than 50% of something. For example, "Almost half of the total revenue came from online sales".

What are some alternatives to saying "almost half of the total"?

Alternatives include phrases like "nearly half of the total", "approximately half of the total", or "around half of the total", which offer slight variations in emphasis.

Is there a significant difference between "almost half of the total" and "exactly half of the total"?

Yes, "exactly half of the total" means precisely 50%, while "almost half of the total" suggests a quantity slightly less than 50%. The distinction is important for accuracy in reporting data.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "almost half of the total"?

It's appropriate in contexts where you want to convey that a portion is significant and close to, but not quite, 50%. This phrase is suitable for describing statistics, proportions, or quantities in reports, articles, or everyday conversations.