half dug

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half dug" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been partially excavated or removed from the ground. Example: "The garden was a mess, with a half dug hole that had been abandoned for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The houses of those who once lived here are half built of stone, half dug into the rock.

The Guardian - Travel

In the spirit of international reconciliation, I broke a baguette in half, dug out a divot for my guy, and made myself a little personal sandwich with some blueberry jam.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We knew some of them; they were from this town". The guerrillas had spent a week and a half digging defensive trenches, buying corn from the local coöperative, and marching about the streets shouting "Pueblo libre!" and other slogans.

University of California, Berkeley

As French Revolutionary Louis Antoine de saidThoset said, "Those who make revolutions by half dig their own tombs".

Vice

The group quickly split up, about half digging up plants and placing them in plastic buckets to be carried downstream by truck to the campground, where the rest of the group waded in shin-deep white mud to dig holes and put the plants in place.

Los Angeles Times

"He loves to get on with it, but when something comes at him in the finish, he doesn't half dig in.

BBC

Nevertheless, about 400 same-sex couples, about half of them gay men and half lesbians, dug out their mortgage papers, last month's joint bank account statement or one of the other state-required documents proving their commitment to each other and registered for domestic partnership.

The New York Times

The 180 m Roughcastle Tunnel was driven in three stages, with the two upper quarters being drilled with a standard excavator before the lower half was dug using a modified road planer in 100 mm layers.

Wikipedia

The other half of the hand dug wells belongs to this group.

Applied Water Science

Most of the boreholes and about half of the hand dug wells belong to this group.

Applied Water Science

We dive down a metre and a half and dig off the pale, coiled whelks that stick to the shoreline.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "half dug", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being partially excavated. Specify the object or area to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "half dug" when you mean completely excavated. The phrase implies partial completion, so ensure it accurately reflects the state of the excavation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half dug" functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It describes something that is in a state of partial excavation. As Ludwig AI also confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half dug" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, functioning primarily as a descriptive adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it accurately portrays the state of something being partially excavated. While not exceedingly common, its usage spans across various contexts, including news reporting, wiki articles, and scientific literature. When employing "half dug", clarity is key: ensure the context clearly defines what is being partially unearthed or excavated. Related phrases like "partially excavated" or "partly unearthed" can serve as effective alternatives, depending on the nuance you wish to convey. The phrase is suitable for neutral to slightly formal registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half excavated

Synonymous with "half dug", maintaining a direct similarity in meaning and structure.

partially excavated

Emphasizes the incomplete nature of the excavation process, focusing on the action of digging.

partly unearthed

Highlights the act of bringing something to the surface, but only partially.

semi-excavated

Uses a prefix to denote the partial nature of the excavation.

partially uncovered

Highlights the act of revealing something, but only to a partial extent.

incompletely excavated

Formally expresses the lack of complete excavation.

part-dug

Uses a hyphen to create a compound adjective, signifying something partially dug.

partially disinterred

A more formal way of saying something has been partially removed from a grave or burial site.

partially buried

Implies something was once fully buried but is now only partially so, reversing the action of digging.

shallowly buried

Indicates the depth of burial, suggesting that it's easy to "dig" something up.

FAQs

How can I use "half dug" in a sentence?

You can use "half dug" to describe something that has been partially excavated, such as "The garden was a mess, with a "half dug" hole that had been abandoned for weeks".

What phrases are similar to "half dug"?

Alternatives include "partially excavated", "partly unearthed", or "semi-excavated", which all suggest an incomplete state of excavation.

Is "half dug" grammatically correct?

Yes, "half dug" is grammatically correct and can be used to describe something that is in the process of being dug, but is not yet completely unearthed.

In what contexts is "half dug" most commonly used?

"Half dug" can be found in news reports describing archaeological sites or in gardening contexts, as well as in scientific papers describing excavation processes or geological formations.