half an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

'half an hour' is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to say that a period of time is equal to 30 minutes (or "half a hour"). For example, "I'll need to finish this task within half an hour".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Half an hour later, he was dead.

The New Yorker

Tramped half an hour….

The New Yorker

Half an hour!" SLAM.

The New Yorker

"Half an hour passes.

The New York Times

About half an hour.

The New York Times

Half an hour?

The New Yorker

What was half an hour?

The New Yorker

Breakfast in half an hour".

Independent

Simmer for half an hour.

The New York Times

It can take half an hour.

The New York Times

After half an hour, his arm ached.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "half an hour" when you need to specify a duration of 30 minutes in a clear and concise manner. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "half an hour" when the intended meaning is a general, non-specific short period. Use phrases like "a moment", "a little while", or "a short time" for such cases instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "half an hour" is as an adverbial of time, specifying the duration of an event or activity. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

29%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half an hour" is a grammatically sound and extremely common way to refer to a 30-minute duration. As Ludwig AI indicates, it’s versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings. While alternatives like "thirty minutes" exist, "half an hour" provides a more conversational tone. Be mindful not to use it when a non-specific duration is intended; opt for phrases like "a moment" instead. The widespread usage of "half an hour" across various sources, including news media and wikis, solidifies its status as a standard expression in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thirty minutes

Expresses the same duration using a numerical value and unit of time.

30 minutes

A shorter, more direct way of stating the duration numerically.

a half hour

Uses "a" instead of "an" which might be preferred in some dialects or contexts.

approximately thirty minutes

Indicates an estimated duration, rather than an exact one.

around thirty minutes

Similar to "approximately thirty minutes", suggesting it's not precise.

about thirty minutes

Another way of indicating an approximate timeframe.

a span of thirty minutes

Adds emphasis to the duration as a notable period.

half of one hour

Breaks down the duration into its fractional components.

period of thirty minutes

More formal way to indicate a duration.

a short while

A less specific, more casual way to refer to a similar duration.

FAQs

How can I use "half an hour" in a sentence?

You can use "half an hour" to specify the duration of an activity or event, for example, "The meeting will last "half an hour"" or "I waited for "half an hour" before giving up."

What is the difference between "half an hour" and "30 minutes"?

While both refer to the same duration, ""half an hour"" is more conversational, whereas "30 minutes" is more formal and precise. The best choice depends on the context.

Which is correct: "half an hour" or "half a hour"?

"Half an hour" is the grammatically correct form because "hour" begins with a vowel sound, requiring the indefinite article "an". Using "a" is generally considered incorrect.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "half an hour"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "thirty minutes", "a half hour" (less common), or even more general terms like "a short while" if the exact duration isn't critical.