around a half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around a half" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could write, "We've only been open for around a half hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

He's actually invested more money, around a half million dollars, so far.

The New York Times

By adopting an FPGA architecture, the control logic can be reduced to around a half.

Nuclear Engineering and Design

He said: "Around a half of Facebook users access the site from their mobile phones.

Independent

First year business totalled $10,000; today it is around a half a million.

The New Yorker

"Around a half of the primary schools inspected will be monitored in 'follow-up' visits".

BBC

Your degree of belief that the coin will land heads should be around a half.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

That group was scheduled to turn around a half-mile south of the bridge.

The New York Times

Oldham moved out of the League One relegation zone after turning around a half-time deficit to win at Stevenage.

BBC

"He hung around a half-hour and left," he said.

The New York Times

For six years she bounced around a half-dozen households in Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The New York Times

And the lifetime value of a diploma is now around a half-million dollars, even after you factor in tuition.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "around a half", ensure the context supports an approximation. Avoid using it when precision is required.

Common error

Avoid using "around a half" when a more precise fraction (e.g., 45%, 0.6) is available and appropriate for the context. "Around a half" is best suited for situations where an estimate is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around a half" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating an approximate quantity or proportion. Ludwig AI indicates that "around a half" is correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "around a half" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate an approximate quantity, roughly equivalent to 50 percent. While not exceedingly frequent, its correctness is confirmed by Ludwig AI, and the phrase finds common usage in news, media, and scientific contexts. When precision is required, consider using alternative phrases such as "approximately one half" but as explained above, "around a half" is perfectly valid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately one half

Replaces "around" with "approximately", offering a more formal tone while retaining the core meaning.

roughly half

Substitutes "around" with "roughly", providing a slightly less precise estimation.

about half

Uses "about" instead of "around", creating a more casual tone with minimal semantic change.

close to a half

Replaces "around" with "close to", indicating a near approximation to one half.

nearly a half

Uses "nearly" to convey that the amount is just below one half.

in the vicinity of a half

Employs "in the vicinity of" for a more elaborate way of expressing approximation.

almost a half

Substitutes with "almost", suggesting a value slightly less than one half.

something like a half

Adds "something like" to express a more indefinite approximation.

in the neighborhood of a half

Uses "in the neighborhood of" for a more descriptive approximation.

approaching a half

Conveys a sense of nearing the quantity of a half, focusing on the progression.

FAQs

How can I use "around a half" in a sentence?

You can use "around a half" to indicate an approximate quantity or proportion, such as "Around a half of the students passed the exam" or "The project is around a half complete".

What's the difference between "around a half" and "almost a half"?

"Around a half" indicates a general approximation close to 50%, while "almost a half" suggests a quantity slightly less than 50%.

What are some alternatives to using "around a half" in writing?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "approximately one half", "roughly half", or "about half".

Is it grammatically correct to say "around a half"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "around a half". Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and it is found in various reputable sources.