half as heavy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half as heavy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the weight of two objects, indicating that one is 50% lighter than the other. Example: "This new backpack is half as heavy as my old one, making it much easier to carry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"Look how light it is" — about half as heavy as regular concrete — "and it's airtight.

The New York Times

The film, though heavy, isn't half as heavy as the story he tells me over the next few hours.

The Guardian - Music

The battery packs are about half as heavy as standard AA batteries, so you'll have to adjust to a much lighter-feeling Wii remote.

TechCrunch

Terror offenses in France are dealt with much more severely than common law crimes, although the sentences handed to minors are half as heavy as those imposed on adults.

Vice

Even the basic F-150 has features tailored to nonconstruction workers, like a tailgate that is half as heavy to lift as the current version.

The New York Times

The Dyson digital motor, which spins three times faster than a conventional motor and is twice as energy-efficient and half as heavy, powers the latest Dyson handheld vacuum cleaner and the hand dryer.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The base Air is nearly half as thick and as heavy as the older MacBook, and features a higher-performance processor and faster solid-state storage, as well as extras like a backlit keyboard and a Thunderbolt port.

The New York Times

As prostheses are generally one-third to one-half as heavy as human legs and feet, the researchers adjusted the torque profile to apply to lighter leg segments.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ames asked since when was a half-full Diet Coke as heavy as a full backpack?

The New Yorker

Intel has gained 35percentt, about half as much as the tech-heavy Nasdaq.

Columbia University

The generator's consumption rate is about 40 gallons/hour and these are 55 gallon drums that they're filling half way up (since that's as heavy as they can handle), so they have to do more than one an hour just to stay afloat.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "half as heavy", ensure the comparison is clear and unambiguous. Specify what the subject is being compared to for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "half as heavy" without specifying what the object is being compared to. For instance, instead of saying "It's half as heavy", specify "It's half as heavy as the previous model" for better understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half as heavy" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to quantify the difference in weight between two items, indicating that one weighs 50% less than the other. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half as heavy" is a comparative adjective phrase used to clearly indicate that one object weighs 50% less than another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While not overly frequent, it's commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki contexts, offering a simple yet precise way to express a weight difference. To ensure clarity, always specify the basis of comparison. Alternatives include "50% lighter" or "twice as light".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half the weight

Focuses on the weight itself rather than the comparison.

50% lighter

Uses a percentage to express the reduction in weight.

twice as light

Emphasizes the lightness of the object compared to the other.

considerably lighter

Highlights a noticeable difference in weight without a specific proportion.

significantly less heavy

More formal way of expressing a considerable difference in weight.

not nearly as heavy

Emphasizes the large difference in weight between two objects.

a fraction of the weight

Highlights that one object is far lighter than the other.

moderately lighter

Suggests a slight difference in weight.

substantially lighter

Indicates a large reduction in the weight of the object.

somewhat less heavy

A more understated way to describe the difference in weight.

FAQs

How can I use "half as heavy" in a sentence?

Use "half as heavy" to compare the weight of two items, indicating one weighs 50% less than the other. Example: "This suitcase is "half as heavy" as my old one".

What are some alternatives to saying "half as heavy"?

You can use alternatives such as "50% lighter" or "twice as light", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "half as heavy"?

Yes, the phrase "half as heavy" is grammatically correct and commonly used to make comparisons of weight.

What's the difference between "half as heavy" and "half the weight"?

"Half as heavy" compares the heaviness relatively, while "half the weight" refers directly to the actual weight measurement, implying the item's weight is 50% of another item's weight.