half as wide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half as wide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the width of an object in comparison to another, indicating that it is 50% of the width of the reference object. Example: "The new table is half as wide as the old one, making it more suitable for the smaller dining area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The adjust_grid_xrelsize command makes the first column half as wide as the second column.

Harvard University

This produces a rounded shrub from four to seven feet tall and wide, growing from a base about half as wide as the outside measurement.

The New York Times

Even in last week's moonlight, it was obvious in binoculars, appearing as a round smudge up to half as wide as the Moon.

The Guardian

In Doric temples the intercolumniation at the corners was sometimes half as wide as the intercolumniation along the front and lateral sides of the building.

Britannica

It is much narrower (about half as wide as the four-foot-wide old one) and shorter (by about 12 feet), leaving more space in the dining room for tables.

The New York Times

(Quick: How wide is a football field? Fifty-three yards! That's right — the field is well more than half as wide as it is long. Use this fact and win a bar bet).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

But this look works only with the pipe cleaner-sized trousers catwalk models can get into: if your drainpipe-clad bottom half looks as wide as your batwing-clad top half, it's a recipe for disaster.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The cockpit measured 21 inches across, nearly half again as wide as a racing scull cockpit.

The New York Times

The little round mouth of the Coke bottle thudded into the meat over and over until each piece was not only dimpled but flattened out half again as wide as it had been.

The New York Times - Magazine

In 1953 Twentieth Century Fox introduced CinemaScope, the process by which a picture is projected on a screen two and a half times as wide as it is high; the company's first wide-screen feature film, The Robe (1953), began the trend toward the use of wide screens in motion-picture theatres.

Britannica

To accommodate the expected heavy commuter traffic between the Lower East Side and the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, Buck envisioned a bridge approximately half again as wide as its more famous neighbor, with 10 rather than six lanes for trains, trolleys and carriages.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "half as wide", ensure a clear reference point for comparison to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "half as wide as the door" instead of just "half as wide".

Common error

Avoid using "half as wide" without specifying what it's half as wide as. This can lead to confusion. For example, instead of saying "The screen is half as wide", specify "The screen is half as wide as the wall".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half as wide" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, describing its dimension in relation to another object. Ludwig examples show it is used to provide a quantitative comparison of width.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "half as wide" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the width of an object in relation to another, indicating it is 50% of the reference's width. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is correct and versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from news and media to scientific literature and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure you specify what the object is "half as wide" as to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives such as "50 percent as wide" or "one-half the width" for variety. Steer clear of omitting the reference point. This ensures clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

50 percent as wide

Uses a percentage to explicitly state the proportional width.

half the breadth

Replaces "width" with "breadth", a synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

50% of the width

Directly states the width as a percentage of the original.

half the extent of width

More formal and elaborate way of saying "half as wide".

fifty percent in width

Phrases the width in terms of percentage.

one-half the width

Replaces "half" with "one-half", a slightly more formal phrasing.

half the lateral dimension

Uses "lateral dimension" to specify width in a technical or scientific context.

occupying half the width

Focuses on the space the object occupies in relation to the width.

spanning half the width

Highlights the extent of coverage relative to the width.

equivalent to half its width

Emphasizes the proportionality and equality to half the width.

FAQs

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

The phrase "half as wide" is used to describe the width of an object in comparison to another, indicating that it is 50% of the width of the reference object. For instance: "The smaller box is "half as wide" as the larger one".

What are some alternatives to "half as wide"?

You can use alternatives like "50 percent as wide", "50% of the width", or "one-half the width" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "half as wide"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English.

What's the difference between "half as wide" and "twice as narrow"?

While both phrases describe a proportional relationship, "half as wide" focuses on the width relative to a reference, and "twice as narrow" emphasizes the narrowness. The choice depends on which aspect you want to highlight.