for approximately half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for approximately half" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a duration, quantity, or proportion that is roughly equal to fifty percent of something. Example: "The project was completed for approximately half the budget we initially allocated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Walk along the track, again for approximately half a mile, to reach a junction.

The Guardian - Travel

Today rice is the staff of life for approximately half of the human race.

The New Yorker

It said that symptoms are "clinically relevant" if they exist for approximately half of a given stretch of nights.

The Guardian

Overall trade is still under $10 billion, with oil accounting for approximately half of that.

The New York Times

The report's editor, Pat Conaty said that land accounted for approximately half the cost of a home in Western Europe.

Independent

Genetic effects account for approximately half of the stability in personality across the life span.

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences

The estimated path model accounted for approximately half the variance in math reasoning.

Learning and Individual Differences

Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) will likely account for approximately half of all cases necessitating implantation.

American Heart Journal

For approximately half of the compounds in the blind set we made read-across.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports.

Forbes

Frontal crashes still account for approximately half of all fatalities in passenger cars, despite several decades of crash-related research.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for approximately half", ensure the context clearly defines what the 'whole' or total is that you're referring to. This avoids ambiguity and makes your statement more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "for approximately half" when "about half" or "around half" would suffice. Overly formal phrasing can make your writing sound stilted. Choose the simplest option that conveys your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for approximately half" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate quantity or proportion. It specifies that something is true or occurs close to 50% of the time or in a quantity roughly equal to half. Ludwig AI's analysis indicates this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

26%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for approximately half" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates a quantity or duration that is close to fifty percent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted in written English and appropriate for a range of contexts, from scientific reports to news articles. While alternatives like "about half" may be more concise in some cases, "for approximately half" offers a balance of precision and formality suitable for diverse writing needs. It is common in Science, News & Media and Wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around half

This alternative uses "around" instead of "approximately", offering a slightly less formal tone.

about half

Using "about" provides a simpler and more direct way to express the same concept.

roughly half

Replaces "approximately" with "roughly", indicating an estimate that's not precise.

nearly half

This phrase suggests the proportion is slightly less than half.

close to half

This alternative emphasizes the nearness to the 50% mark.

in the vicinity of half

More formal and less common, this phrase indicates an approximate quantity near half.

in the neighborhood of half

Similar to "in the vicinity of half", but uses the word "neighborhood" for approximation.

something like half

This phrase offers a more casual way to suggest an estimation around half.

half or so

A more informal construction that implies a rough estimation of half.

fifty percent approximately

Reverses the order and uses "fifty percent" explicitly, adding emphasis to the percentage.

FAQs

How can I use "for approximately half" in a sentence?

You can use "for approximately half" to indicate that something accounts for around 50% of a total quantity or duration. For example, "The project was completed for approximately half the estimated cost."

What are some alternatives to "for approximately half"?

Alternatives include "around half", "about half", or "roughly half", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality and emphasis.

Is it more accurate to say "for approximately half" or "for exactly half"?

"For approximately half" indicates an estimation close to 50%, whereas "for exactly half" implies a precise 50%. Use "for approximately half" when you don't have or need to convey an exact measurement.

When is it appropriate to use "for approximately half" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "for approximately half" in both formal and informal writing contexts when you need to convey an estimated proportion that is close to 50% of something. It adds a touch of formality compared to alternatives like "about half".