divided in half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'divided in half' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation in which something is separated into two equally-sized parts. For example: "The cake was divided in half, with one half going to each of the children."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"They left a country divided in half.

The New York Times

Today, the nursery comprises a giant greenhouse, divided in half.

The New York Times - Travel

More typical at 907 were floors divided in half.

The New York Times

The orchestra was divided in half, strings to one side, everything else to the other.

The New York Times - Arts

The laundry is divided in half, with Marc doing the darks and Amy doing the lights.

The New York Times - Magazine

The startled crowd, divided in half for a moment, became aware of its size.

The New Yorker

That day, the soldiers in our boot camp were divided in half.

The New York Times

The flaky pie pastry for this double-crust pie called for the dough to be divided in half.

The New York Times - Food

All fees are divided in half -- 50percentt going to Barings and 50percenttoto Mr. Leeson.

The New York Times

"Of course," one says, struggling to understand a binary view of the British class system, "I'm already divided in half".

The New York Times - Books

In particular, the West Bank would effectively be divided in half by Jewish settlements and roads running from Jerusalem to the Jordan River Valley.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "divided in half" to clearly indicate that something is being split into two equal portions. Ensure the context makes it clear whether this is a physical division or a more abstract separation.

Common error

While "divided in half" implies equality, always check if the context explicitly confirms this. Sometimes, it might be used loosely, and clarification might be needed to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "divided in half" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of separating something into two equal parts. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "divided in half" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something being separated into two equal parts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently across various contexts, including news, science, and general conversation. While simpler alternatives like "halved" exist, "divided in half" offers a clear and precise way to convey equal partitioning. Remember to ensure the context confirms equality when using this phrase. Top authoritative sources include The New York Times, The New Yorker, and BBC. The phrase is suitable for neutral registers and serves the purpose of clearly indicating equal separation or distribution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

split into two equal parts

This alternative emphasizes the action of splitting and the resulting equal portions.

halved

This is a shorter, more direct way of saying something is divided into two.

bisected

This is a more concise, technical term that implies division into two equal parts, especially in geometry.

separated into two halves

This alternative emphasizes the separation and the resulting two distinct halves.

partitioned equally

This phrase highlights the act of dividing and ensuring that each part receives an equal share.

sectioned in two

Focuses on creating sections or portions of the whole.

distributed in two equal shares

Emphasizes the idea of distributing something equally between two entities.

cleaved in two

Suggests a more forceful or abrupt division into two parts.

dichotomized

A more formal and technical term, often used in academic or scientific contexts.

demarcated into two

This alternative emphasizes the establishment of boundaries to create two distinct parts.

FAQs

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

You can use "divided in half" to describe something that is separated into two equal parts. For instance, "The pizza was divided in half, so each person got an equal share."

What's a simple alternative to "divided in half"?

A simpler alternative is "halved". For example, instead of saying "The cake was divided in half", you could say "The cake was halved."

Is it always necessary to specify "in half" when using "divided"?

No, it is not always necessary. You can also say "divided in two", or you could just say "divided" if the context makes it clear that you are referring to two parts.

What is the difference between "split in half" and "divided in half"?

"Split in half" and "divided in half" are often used interchangeably. However, "split in half" might imply a more physical or forceful separation, while "divided in half" can be more general.