half achieving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half achieving" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used to describe a situation where something is partially accomplished or not fully successful, but it is not a commonly accepted expression. Example: "The project was half achieving its goals, leaving many tasks incomplete."

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In people who take prescription antidepressants, 60percentto80percentcent show improvement, with about half achieving a full recovery.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The 2020 goal is already half achieved, Dr. Moniz said, and achieving the rest will require faster fulfillment of new appliance efficiency standards, among other steps.

The New York Times

From that all-conquering 1999 side, less than half achieved longevity: "Cole, Carrick, Richard Garcia now at Hull, Stephen Bywater [Sheffield Wednesday], and Adam Newton, who played for West Ham, and other clubs".

The Guardian - Sport

A third-term Labour government that succeeds in cutting child poverty by half, achieves full employment in every region, narrows the pay and promotion gap between men and women, and which implements the Warwick agreement on workplace rights in full, is one that we could be proud of.

The Guardian

Less than half achieved significant weight loss and a high drop-out rate meant that evaluators were unable to recommend it as a way of tackling obesity.

BBC

We measured lost productivity from HALT in whole days/3 months, equating, according to accepted methodology [9, 27], "less than half achieved" to "nothing achieved" and counterbalancing this by equating "more than half" to "everything".

The Journal of Headache and Pain

We measured lost productivity from HALT in whole days during the preceding 3 months, equating, according to accepted methodology [15, 27], "less than half achieved" to "nothing achieved" and counterbalancing this by equating "more than half" to "everything".

The Journal of Headache and Pain

For patients who benefit, half achieve a seizure reduction within five days (if the diet starts with an initial fast of one to two days), three-quarters achieve a reduction within two weeks, and 90% achieve a reduction within 23 days.

Wikipedia

Of these, less than half achieve the recommended HB A1C level [ 3].

BioMed Research International

Among the patients who showed a decrease in CA-125, almost half achieved a marker normalization.

Annals of Oncology

For those who initiate insulin therapy, less than half achieve a desired HbA1c of ≤7% (21).

Diabetes Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and readily understood alternatives like "partially achieving" or "partly successful" to ensure clarity and avoid potential confusion for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "half achieving" in formal or academic writing. It is generally better suited for informal contexts, if used at all. Opt for more precise and widely accepted terms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half achieving" functions as a modifier, typically describing the extent to which a goal or objective has been realized. As Ludwig points out, it's not a standard English expression, suggesting a need for caution in its usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half achieving" is an uncommon way to express partial accomplishment. While not grammatically incorrect, its infrequent use may lead to ambiguity. Ludwig suggests using more standard alternatives such as "partially achieving" or "partly successful" for improved clarity. Given its informal tone, it's advisable to avoid using "half achieving" in formal writing. Overall, while understandable, it may not be the optimal choice for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially achieving

Replaces "half" with "partially", indicating incomplete accomplishment.

partly achieving

Synonymous with "partially achieving", emphasizing the partial nature of the achievement.

incompletely achieving

Uses "incompletely" to modify "achieving", highlighting the lack of full attainment.

partially successful

Shifts from the active "achieving" to the adjective "successful", indicating a degree of success.

partly successful

Similar to "partially successful", but with a slightly different adverb.

partially attaining

Replaces "achieving" with "attaining", suggesting the act of reaching a goal in a partial way.

making partial progress

Focuses on the progress made, highlighting that it is only partial.

partially realizing

Substitutes "achieving" with "realizing", indicating partial manifestation or fulfillment.

making headway halfway

Emphasizes reaching the midpoint of progress, suggesting incompletion.

attaining half the goal

More explicitly states the attainment of only half of the intended objective.

FAQs

What does "half achieving" mean?

The phrase "half achieving" implies that something is only partially accomplished or not fully successful. It suggests that the effort or action only reached a midpoint or a partial completion of the intended goal.

What can I say instead of "half achieving"?

You can use alternatives like "partially achieving", "partially successful", or "incompletely achieving" depending on the specific context.

Is "half achieving" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "half achieving" isn't strictly incorrect, it is uncommon and can sound awkward. Using more conventional phrasing is recommended to improve clarity and readability.

In what contexts can "half achieving" be used?

Due to its informal nature, "half achieving" might be suitable in casual conversation or less formal writing. However, in academic, professional, or formal contexts, it's best to choose more precise and widely accepted alternatives.