close to half of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to half of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase when you want to approximate a quantity that is almost, but not quite, exactly one half. For example, you could say, "Close to half of the students in the class were absent today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Close to half of New England's towns were torched.

The Economist

Close to half of Chibok's population has left this year.

The Guardian

Close to half of the featured composers are contemporary.

The New Yorker

Probably close to half of those involved looking for C.E.O.

The New York Times

Close to half of Malawi's under-five-year-olds are stunted.

The Economist

Close to half of total solar radiation received at the surface of Earth is infrared.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The problem: Close to half of American adults take vitamins every day.

Independent

Everybody has a mother, and something close to half of everybody becomes one.

The New Yorker

It is thought that close to half of them are Hispanics.

The Economist

Those countries now account for close to half of the emissions.

The New York Times

DMGT and Yattendon will own close to half of the new venture.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "close to half of", ensure the context provides a clear understanding of the total amount being referred to. For example, "Close to half of the students attended the lecture," implies there's a defined number of students.

Common error

Avoid using "close to half of" when precise data is available. If the exact percentage or fraction is known, it's better to state the precise figure instead of using an approximation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to half of" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun to indicate that the quantity is approximately but not exactly 50%. Ludwig examples show its use across various contexts to provide an estimated proportion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close to half of" is a grammatically sound and commonly used quantifier for indicating that a quantity is approximately one half. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted in English writing. It appears most frequently in news, science, and business contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. While versatile, it's best practice to use the phrase when precision is not critical, and to avoid it when precise figures are available. Alternative phrases such as "almost half of" or "nearly half of" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost half of

Emphasizes the nearness to the halfway point, but may suggest slightly less accuracy.

nearly half of

Similar to "almost half of", suggesting a high degree of proximity to 50%.

just under half of

Indicates the quantity is a bit less than 50%, maintaining the approximate idea.

slightly less than half of

More explicitly indicates that the quantity is a small amount below one half.

around 45% of

Specifies a numerical range close to half, giving a more concrete approximation.

approximately 50% of

Uses a direct percentage to express the approximate quantity.

in the vicinity of half of

More formal way of indicating an amount near to one half.

a substantial portion of

General term indicating a significant amount, less precise than "close to half of".

a large fraction of

Indicates a considerable but non-specific proportion.

a good percentage of

Suggests a notable proportion but without specific numeric implication.

FAQs

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

You can use "close to half of" to describe a quantity that is slightly less or more than 50%. For example, "Close to half of the survey respondents agreed with the proposal."

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

Alternatives include "almost half of", "nearly half of", or "just under half of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "close to half of" or "approximately 50% of"?

"Approximately 50% of" is generally more precise. "Close to half of" is suitable when an exact figure isn't necessary or available, implying it could be slightly above or below 50%.

When should I use "close to half of" instead of a more specific percentage?

Use "close to half of" when you want to provide a general estimate without needing to be exact, or when the exact percentage isn't known or relevant.