close to a half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to a half" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a quantity that is nearly half of something, often in contexts involving measurements or comparisons. Example: "The project is close to a half completed, and we expect to finish it by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Moskowitz earns close to a half a million dollars a year ($485,000) for overseeing school programs that serve 6,700 children, which is over $72 per student.

HuffPost

"Close to a half million cosmetic procedures will be performed on girls 18 or younger this year".

The New York Times

Currently, the system has indexed close to a half million video stories organized around 24,500 topics over a period of 13 months.

Columbia University

Until 2004, when Roger Copeland published his "Merce Cunningham: The Modernizing of Modern Dance," there was no critical book on this artist who has been recognized as a master for close to a half century.

The New Yorker

Bremer's C.P.A., needing a public-relations victory, refurbished the zoo and reopened it to the public in July, with great fanfare; the cost was close to a half million dollars.

The New Yorker

How interesting it is — and I have no explanation — that after close to a half century in which evangelical Protestantism has been a huge cultural force in our society and in our politics, artists are now, at last, taking an interest in it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

He spent close to a half-million dollars on office equipment in May and June.

The New York Times

In return, James said he would forgo collecting close to a half-million dollars in damages.

The New York Times

But the Yankees did not unload close to a half-billion dollars simply to win the A.L. East.

The New York Times - Sports

From 1997 to 2000, according to Lehman Brothers, telecom companies borrowed close to a half-trillion dollars.

The New York Times

How did the Trumps get away with decades of schemes the Times said allowed them to evade close to a half-billion dollars of income and gift taxes?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to a half", ensure the context provides a clear reference for what constitutes the whole. This adds precision to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "close to a half" when the actual quantity is significantly different from 50%. This can mislead the reader about the true proportion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to a half" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically describing a quantity or proportion that approximates one half. As Ludwig AI points out, it accurately represents values near 50%.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to a half" serves as an adjectival modifier to approximate quantities around 50%. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that while grammatically correct, its suitability depends on the context and desired level of precision. Although it can be found in a variety of sources, it appears most frequently in "News & Media" and "Science". When more precision is needed, consider using "exactly half" and when there is no need for precision, you can use "nearly half" or "almost half".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly half

Replaces "close to" with "nearly", directly indicating approximation.

almost half

Substitutes "close to" with "almost", emphasizing the nearness to half.

approaching half

Uses "approaching" to suggest movement towards half.

around half

Indicates an estimation centered on half.

just under half

Highlights that the quantity is slightly less than half.

nearing half

Similar to approaching, implying that the quantity is drawing nearer to half.

in the vicinity of half

More formal and emphasizes being in the general range of half.

slightly less than half

Expresses being a bit below the halfway point.

a little under half

Similar to slightly less but less formal.

bordering on half

Suggests the quantity is at the edge of being half.

FAQs

What does "close to a half" mean?

The expression "close to a half" means nearly 50% or approximately one half of a particular whole. It indicates that a quantity or measurement is just below, around, or just above the exact midpoint.

How can I use "close to a half" in a sentence?

You can use "close to a half" to describe proportions, quantities, or measurements that are near to being one half. For example: "Nearly half of the participants agreed with the proposal."

Which is more accurate, "close to a half" or "exactly half"?

"Exactly half" indicates a precise midpoint (50%), while "close to a half" suggests an approximation. Use "exactly half" when the quantity is precise and "close to a half" when the quantity is approximate but near the midpoint.

What are some alternatives to saying "close to a half"?

Some alternatives to "close to a half" include "almost half", "nearly half", or "around half", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.