half as massive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half as massive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare the mass of one object to another, indicating that it has 50% of the mass of the other object. Example: "The smaller planet is half as massive as the larger one, which affects its gravitational pull."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

One planet may be just slightly more massive than Saturn; the other may be half as massive as Saturn.

The New York Times

As best they can determine, the perturber is perhaps ten times more massive than Earth, or roughly half as massive as Neptune, and it is very distant indeed.

The New Yorker

The star V 391 Pegasi is about 4,500 light years from Earth and is about half as massive as the Sun, burning helium into carbon.

The New York Times - Science

Known as AU Microscopii (AU Mic), the star is half as massive as the sun and lies a mere 33 light-years from Earth.

Science Magazine

Astronomers searching for extrasolar planets have discovered a real corker: a gigantic world more than twice the size of Jupiter but only half as massive, which means it's literally about as dense as a cork.

Science Magazine

The planet, 51 Pegasi b, was half as massive as Jupiter, but its 4-day orbit was impossibly close to the star, far smaller than the 88-day orbit of Mercury.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Whereas previous work indicated that the hydrogen gas was half a billion times as massive as the sun, Fox's team puts the number at 2 billion solar masses.

Science Magazine

The star was already known to have an even larger planetary companion, at least two and a half times as massive as Jupiter.

The New York Times

It is 100 quadrillion times as massive as the sun equivalent to 100,000 Milky Ways and stretches across more than half a billion light-years of space.

Science Magazine

And not half as clean.

The New Yorker

I probably take half an hour to get ready – quick shower, wash my hair, head upside down, hardcore blow-dry, hairspray into the roots to make it as massive as possible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, always ensure the units of mass are clearly stated when using the phrase "half as massive" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "half as massive" when you actually mean half the size or volume. Mass refers to the amount of matter, while size refers to the physical dimensions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half as massive" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by expressing its mass relative to another object. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science & Research

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half as massive" is a comparative term used to describe the relative mass of an object, indicating it possesses 50% of the mass of another. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in various contexts, most notably in scientific and news reporting. While alternatives such as "half the mass" exist, "half as massive" offers a clear and direct comparison. When using this phrase, ensure you are accurately comparing mass, not size, and consider providing units for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half the mass

This alternative directly replaces "massive" with "mass" creating a more concise comparison.

50% of the mass

This provides a numerical representation of the relative mass.

50 percent as massive

A variation using "percent" instead of "half".

half the weight

While weight and mass are different, they are often used interchangeably in common language; this is less precise.

twice as light

This focuses on the lower mass of the object being compared, creating a contrasting perspective.

half the size in mass

Specifies that the comparison refers to mass not physical dimensions.

possessing half the mass

A more formal way of saying "having half the mass".

with half the mass

Uses a prepositional phrase to describe the relative mass.

a mass ratio of 1:2

Describes the mass relationship as a ratio.

of diminished mass

A more descriptive, less precise way of saying "less massive".

FAQs

How to use "half as massive" in a sentence?

You can use "half as massive" to compare the mass of two objects, indicating one has 50% of the mass of the other. For example, "The planet is "half as massive" as Jupiter."

What can I say instead of "half as massive"?

Alternatives include "half the mass", "50 percent as massive", or "twice as light" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "half as massive" or "half of the mass"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "half as massive" is used for direct comparisons, whereas "half of the mass" is more general. For example, "The object has "half the mass" of the original sample" versus "The object is "half as massive" as the sun."

What's the difference between "half as massive" and "half as large"?

"Half as massive" refers to mass, the amount of matter in an object, while "half as large" refers to size or volume. These are not interchangeable. A planet can be "half as large" but more dense, and therefore, have similar mass.