half a percent

USAGE SUMMARY

"half a percent" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a small portion or fraction of something, and is usually written as "0.5%" or "0.5 percent" in numerical form. Example: Only half a percent of the population was eligible to receive the prestigious award.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The losses absorbed by these tranches range from the half a percent, to 4percentt.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In other words, savings were declining half a percent a year, or their spending was growing half a percent faster than their incomes per year for 25 years.

Forbes

Two, half a percent less.

University of California, Berkeley

An increase of half a percent is expected.

The New York Times

"I was probably at half a percent," Williams said.

The New York Times - Sports

Microsoft shares dropped to $29.24, or half a percent.

The New York Times - Tech

It shows employment up half a percent since the end of the recession.

The New York Times

It's half a percent.

Forbes

Foreign trade hurt by half a percent.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Fifty basis points is one-half a percent.

Forbes

Shares of Microsoft fell less than half a percent to $26.99 in after-hours trading.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision is important, use "0.5%" or "0.5 percent" for clarity. In less formal contexts, "half a percent" is acceptable.

Common error

Avoid using "half a percent" when you need to indicate a more substantial portion. This phrase specifically denotes a very small fraction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half a percent" functions as a quantitative adjective, modifying a noun (often implied, such as 'increase', 'decrease', or 'share'). It specifies a very small proportion of a whole. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase accurately describes a small fraction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half a percent" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a small quantity or proportion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's typically used to describe minor increases, decreases, or shares, and can be represented numerically as "0.5%". While versatile, it's essential to reserve it for truly small quantities, and not mistake it for a larger portion. Predominantly found in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts, this phrase offers precision while remaining accessible. For maximum formality, opting for "0.5%" is advisable, while "half a percent" is perfectly suitable for general audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

point five percent

Rephrases "half" as a decimal, maintaining the exact numerical value.

zero point five percent

Adds "zero" for emphasis or clarity, especially in formal contexts.

50 basis points

Uses financial terminology to express the same value.

one twentieth

Expresses "half a percent" as a fraction.

a small percentage

Uses a more general term to indicate a minor proportion.

a tiny fraction

Emphasizes the insignificance of the amount.

a marginal amount

Highlights that the quantity is barely noticeable or impactful.

a negligible quantity

Indicates the amount is so small it can be ignored.

a minimal proportion

Focuses on the proportional aspect being very low.

almost nothing

Broadly conveys the idea of a very small quantity.

FAQs

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

You can use "half a percent" to describe a small increase, decrease, or proportion. For example, "The unemployment rate decreased by "half a percent" this month".

What are some alternatives to saying "half a percent"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a small percentage", "a tiny fraction", or "50 basis points" (in financial contexts).

Is it better to write "0.5%" or "half a percent"?

Both are correct. "0.5%" is more common in technical or formal writing, while "half a percent" is suitable for more general audiences.

What does "half a percent" mean in financial terms?

In finance, "half a percent" is often referred to as 50 basis points. It represents 0.005 of a whole, and it is used to measure changes in interest rates or investment returns.