for around a half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for around a half" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to an approximate duration or quantity that is about half of something, often in informal contexts. Example: "The meeting lasted for around a half of an hour before we took a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The move is the latest for Apple in a gradual attempt to build up its business in the region, one of the fast-growing emerging markets currently with 350 million unique mobile users, and projections for around a half million smartphones to be in use by 2020.

TechCrunch

Two remained outside, while the two others drank beers inside for around a half hour before launching the attack.

Vice

According to table 2 almost all women were married, most women were 20-34 years old and nullipara accounted for around a half.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He then went to a club for around half an hour, before going to a friend's house.

The Guardian - Sport

The houses on Island Street – which now sell for around half a million and rent out in the summer for around a grand a week – were then 10-in-a-bedroom slums.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We had to sit around for a half hour," Teixeira said.

The New York Times - Sports

At least two of the removed apps had been on the Play Store for around half a year before being pulled yesterday.

TechCrunch

Then place the mixture in a heavy pot, bring to a simmer, and cook for around a half-hour, until the chicken is tender.

The New York Times - Magazine

A wood-frame bungalow near the Pacific could be bought for $250,000 to $300,000, a funky 1970s triplex with plenty of rental options was going for around a half-million dollars, and a sublime beachfront cookout at San Onofre State Beach waited just down the road.

The New York Times - Travel

Potential problems: the videos themselves are expensive ($8 each) and quite large (~800MB for around a half-hour video).

TechCrunch

Go onto Moshi Monsters every day for around half an hour if required, or every two days for an hour.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for around a half", ensure the context clearly indicates what the 'half' refers to. For clarity, consider specifying the unit of measurement (e.g., "for around a half hour", "for around a half million").

Common error

Avoid using "for around a half" when a simpler phrase like "about half" or "approximately half" would be more concise and direct. Overly complex phrasing can sometimes detract from clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for around a half" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, often indicating an approximate proportion or duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, demonstrating its role in specifying quantities or periods.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for around a half" serves as a prepositional phrase indicating an approximate value or duration, close to one half of a specified quantity. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While alternatives such as "about half" or "approximately half" may offer more concise options, "for around a half" is acceptably employed across various contexts, particularly in news and media, to provide a sense of estimation. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly specifies the unit being measured to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately half

Changes "for around a" to "approximately", offering a more formal tone.

about half

Replaces "for around a" with "about", providing a simpler alternative.

roughly half

Substitutes "for around a" with "roughly", indicating an estimation.

nearly half

Replaces "for around a" with "nearly", indicating a slight difference from half.

close to half

Replaces "for around a" with "close to", suggesting near proximity to half.

something like half

Adds a more casual and uncertain tone.

in the vicinity of half

Uses a more formal and elaborate construction than the original.

in the neighborhood of half

Uses a more conversational and less precise expression.

in the order of half

Emphasizes an estimation of the quantity.

halfway

A shorter, less descriptive term.

FAQs

What does "for around a half" mean?

The phrase "for around a half" means approximately one half of a specified quantity or duration. It indicates an estimation or an approximation, suggesting the actual value is close to half.

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

You can use "for around a half" when you want to express that something is close to or about 50% of a certain amount. For example, "The project is expected to be completed "in approximately half" a year".

What can I say instead of "for around a half"?

Alternatives to "for around a half" include "approximately half", "about half", "roughly half", or "nearly half". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "for around a half" or "for about half"?

Both "for around a half" and "for about half" are acceptable, but "for about half" is generally considered more concise and common in everyday speech and writing. Choose based on the desired level of formality and clarity.