around half

USAGE SUMMARY

"around half" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means approximately fifty percent or close to half. Example: "The survey indicated that around half of the students were in favor of the new dress code policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A few boxes lie around, half unpacked.

The New York Times - Magazine

Now there are around half that number.

The Guardian

This should take around half an hour.

WikiHow

Around half are eating.

The Guardian

Around half were vaccinated against measles.

The New York Times

Around half are held by security officials.

The Economist

Now the figure is around half.

The New York Times

Around half have since returned home.

Independent

Among them was around half the Socialist Party.

The Economist

Around half of Vietnam's people are Buddhist.

The Economist

Around half of those incidents involved edibles.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "around half", ensure the context makes it clear what the total quantity is being referenced. For instance, "Around half of the students" requires a previously defined student population.

Common error

Avoid assuming "around half" is exactly 50%. It signifies an approximate value, which can vary slightly above or below 50% depending on the context. Be mindful of the implied margin of error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around half" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate that the amount or number is approximately fifty percent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use. It specifies an approximate quantity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "around half" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression indicating an approximate quantity of fifty percent. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its prevalence spans diverse contexts, from News & Media to scientific and formal business environments. While interchangeable with alternatives like "approximately fifty percent", it's important to remember that "around half" implies an approximation, not an exact value. When writing, prioritize clarity by ensuring the referenced total quantity is evident. By avoiding the assumption that "around half" equates to precisely 50%, you will ensure your audience gets the correct message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately fifty percent

Uses a more precise numerical value to convey the same approximate quantity.

roughly fifty percent

Replaces "around" with "roughly", maintaining the sense of approximation.

about fifty percent

Substitutes "around" with "about", indicating an estimation.

close to fifty percent

Emphasizes the proximity to the fifty percent mark.

nearly fifty percent

Indicates that the quantity is just below fifty percent.

half or so

Uses a more informal and less precise expression.

in the vicinity of fifty percent

Offers a more formal and precise way to express the approximation.

a little under half

Highlights that the quantity is slightly less than half.

a substantial portion

Replaces the numerical approximation with a more general term for a significant amount.

a considerable fraction

Uses a formal term, "fraction", to represent the quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use "around half" to indicate that approximately 50% of something is being referred to. For example, "Around half of the attendees were from out of state."

What are some alternatives to saying "around half"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately fifty percent", "roughly fifty percent", or "about fifty percent" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to use "around half" or "exactly 50%"?

Use "around half" when you want to indicate an approximation. If you know the exact percentage is 50%, then using "exactly 50%" is more appropriate. The phrases aren't interchangeable.

Can "around half" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "around half" is acceptable in most writing contexts, including formal writing. However, for absolute precision, using "approximately 50%" might be preferred. Ultimately is about how precise you want to be.