first half of january

USAGE SUMMARY

"first half of January" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to the first two weeks of the month of January. For example, "During the first half of January, I took a vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

The first half of January doesn't feel like the beginning of anything.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Syrian negotiations are due to be held in the first half of January.

The Guardian

Half of these days are in the first half of January.

The Guardian

Even now, there should still be discounts on holidays in Whistler Blackcomb in the first half of January.

Independent

Transactions in Shanghai in the first half of January reportedly jumped by more than a third year-on-year, according to local estate agents.

The Economist

The start of 2011 certainly promises to be pretty grim, with the first half of January bringing a succession of events that will underline Pakistan's current misfortunes.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

The survey covers October and the first half of November.

The New York Times

And the first half of July has brought 240 calls.

The New York Times

In the first half of October, he raised just $36 million.

The New York Times

Moviefone said sales in the first half of July were up 10percentt over the first half of June.

The New York Times

The first half of March was a perfect time to get some nitrogen on the wheat.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about specific events, consider using "first half of january" to provide a general timeframe without committing to a specific date.

Common error

Avoid assuming "first half of january" refers precisely to the first 15 days. While common, it's an approximation, not a strict calendar definition. If you need precision, specify dates.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first half of january" functions as a temporal adverbial phrase, specifying a timeframe. It is commonly used to indicate when an event occurred or will occur, as Ludwig AI confirms, providing a general temporal context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first half of january" is a common and grammatically correct temporal phrase used to denote the initial weeks of January. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's widely accepted and understood. Predominantly found in News & Media, but also present in Academia and Encyclopedias, the phrase serves to provide a general timeframe for events or actions. For more specific information, consider using phrases like "early january", or specifying exact dates. While generally applicable, it's important to remember that "first half of january" is an approximation. Avoid assuming that it always ends precisely on January 15.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early january

This alternative uses a simpler adjective to indicate the beginning of January.

beginning of january

This phrase explicitly states the start of January.

january 1st to january 15th

This specifies the exact date range within January.

first weeks of january

This alternative broadens the timeframe to include multiple weeks.

the initial part of january

This uses a more formal tone to indicate the early portion of the month.

first part of january

This alternative uses a different noun to indicate the beginning of January.

opening days of january

This phrase emphasizes the initial days of the month.

before mid-january

This alternative focuses on the time leading up to the middle of January.

the former part of january

Similar to 'initial part' but uses 'former' to denote the first section of the month.

first section of january

An alternative that uses section instead of half, emphasizing the beginning.

FAQs

How can I use "first half of january" in a sentence?

You can use "first half of january" to describe events occurring during that period, such as, "The conference is scheduled for the first half of january".

What's a synonym for "first half of january"?

Alternatives include "early january", or "beginning of january", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "early january" or "first half of january"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "first half of january" provides a slightly more specific timeframe than "early january".

What period does "first half of january" generally cover?

"First half of january" typically refers to the first two weeks of the month, approximately January 1st to January 15th.