first half hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"first half hour" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, "I spent the first half hour of my day reviewing emails."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The first half hour of the initial consultation is free.

Cornell University

For the first half hour, the game is a stunner.

The New Yorker

The first half hour features an update from Coleen Campbell on the OA2020 effort.

Harvard University

MFB: The first half hour of the movie showed the effects of climate change on Earth.

Princeton University

For example, USD$6.4 for the first half hour and USD$3.2 per 15 minutes thereafter.

Cornell University

CNN's regular correspondents often appear during the first half hour, but not always comfortably.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

And that's just the first half-hour.

The Guardian - Film

That was the first half-hour.

The New York Times - Travel

The first half-hour reinforced that impression.

The Guardian - Sport

The first half-hour in our rented canoe was tricky.

The Washington Post

This was the theme of the first half-hour.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying the "first half hour" of an event, ensure the context clearly indicates what the "first half hour" refers to. For example, "The "first half hour" of the meeting will be dedicated to introductions."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly defining the starting point when using the phrase "first half hour". Without a clear reference, the time frame can be misinterpreted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first half hour" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as an adverbial modifier of time, specifying a duration. Ludwig examples confirm its role in denoting the beginning period of an activity or event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first half hour" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the initial thirty minutes of an activity or event. Analysis of Ludwig AI data shows that it's used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia. Ludwig's examples confirm its neutral register and clear function as a temporal specifier. While generally straightforward, it's important to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "initial thirty minutes" can offer a more formal tone. Overall, "first half hour" is a reliable and versatile phrase in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial thirty minutes

Emphasizes the duration using a different numerical representation.

opening half hour

Highlights the start or beginning of an event or period.

early thirty minutes

Focuses on the early part of a thirty-minute period.

first thirty-minute period

Specifies the duration more formally.

inaugural half hour

Implies a beginning or launch phase lasting thirty minutes.

preliminary thirty minutes

Suggests a preparatory or introductory phase.

commencing half hour

Emphasizes the start of the thirty-minute interval.

beginning thirty minutes

Highlights the initial segment of a longer duration.

first thirty minutes portion

A more descriptive way of specifying the duration.

starting thirty minutes

Indicates the commencement of a specific activity.

FAQs

How can I use "first half hour" in a sentence?

You can use "first half hour" to describe the initial 30 minutes of an event, activity, or period. For example, "The "first half hour" of the class covered basic definitions."

What's a more formal way to say "first half hour"?

A more formal alternative is "initial thirty minutes". For instance, "The presentation lasted ninety minutes, with key insights presented in the "initial thirty minutes"."

What can I say instead of "first half hour" when describing a movie?

You could say "opening thirty minutes" or "initial scenes". For example, "The "opening thirty minutes" of the film were captivating."

Is it ever incorrect to use "first half hour"?

While grammatically correct, "first half hour" might be less appropriate in highly formal or technical contexts where more precise timing is needed. In such cases, specifying the exact start and end times might be preferable.