half less

USAGE SUMMARY

"half less" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a quantity that has been reduced by half of the original amount. For example, "The store had half less customers than usual."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

(Half the households had more, half less).

The New York Times

We were pretty relentless in the first half; less so in the second.

The Guardian - Sport

He couldn't lift his hand and move it, a foot, a foot and a half — less.

The New Yorker

That means half of law school graduates made more and half less than this amount over their lifetime.

The New York Times

Looked at another way, half the chief executives in 1995 served more than six years, half less.

The New York Times

Median wealth figures — where half of households have more wealth and half less — produces lower numbers, but the trends are the same, the Urban Institute researchers said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Assuming a 35percenttariffff, the company said, it could charge one-third to one-half less than local merchants, not a third to a half of local prices.

The New York Times

Especially, the material consumption of EMR is about one-half less than that of FUL when geometric concentration ratio is 4×, meanwhile, the uniformity of EMR on best concentration plane is about 20% more than that of FUL and the optical efficiency of EMR is about 2% more than that of FUL.

Solar Energy

CS: The average American sleeps six-and-a-half to seven hours a night, which is an hour-and-a-half less than people actually slept in pre-modern times.

Huffington Post

Approximately one-fourth had distances of less than 12,000 bp, one-half less than 26,000 bp, and three-quarters less than 54,000 bp.

BMC Medical Genomics

–One-half stay less than one semester.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "half less" to clearly indicate a reduction of something by half. For clarity, specify what exactly is being reduced (e.g., "half less time", "half less cost").

Common error

Ensure your sentence clearly states what is being reduced by half. Vague usage can confuse readers. Always specify the noun to which "half less" applies (e.g., say "half less sugar", not just "half less").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half less" functions as a modifier, typically quantifying a reduction in a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, indicating it serves to specify a reduced amount or degree.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half less" is grammatically correct and used to indicate a reduction by half. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and it's found across various contexts, mainly in News & Media and Science, implying a neutral register. To ensure clarity, always specify what is being reduced. Alternatives such as "approximately half the quantity" or "almost half the amount" may suit different contexts. When writing, avoid ambiguity by clearly stating what quantity is being diminished. While not overly common, understanding its proper usage can enhance clarity in conveying reductions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about half as much

This expression emphasizes the reduced quantity relative to the original amount.

almost half the amount

Focuses on the diminished amount, indicating it's slightly less than half.

approximately half the quantity

Emphasizes the approximate nature of the reduction, specifying it relates to the quantity.

roughly fifty percent reduction

Uses percentage to specify the reduction, framing it in mathematical terms.

just under half the size

This alternative focuses on the size aspect of the reduction.

reduced by nearly fifty percent

Highlights that the reduction is close to but not exactly fifty percent.

a little under fifty percent

Specifies the reduction in percentage but indicates it's marginally lower.

close to a fifty percent decrease

This option frames the reduction as a decrease and specifies it in percentage terms.

substantially halved

Highlights the act of halving something, suggesting a significant reduction.

markedly diminished by half

Emphasizes that the reduction is noticeable and by a specific amount.

FAQs

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

Use "half less" to indicate a reduction by half of something. For example, "The new engine uses "half less fuel"" or "There was "half less traffic" than usual".

What does "half less" mean?

"Half less" means that a quantity has been reduced by 50% of its original value. It indicates a substantial decrease.

Which is correct, "half less" or "half as much"?

Both are correct but subtly different. "Half less" emphasizes the reduction, while "half as much" describes the resulting quantity. The choice depends on the intended emphasis.

What are some alternatives to saying "half less"?

Alternatives include "approximately half the quantity", "roughly fifty percent reduction", or "almost half the amount", depending on the context.