half less than

USAGE SUMMARY

"half less than" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing two quantities, where one is half of the other. For example: "This apple weighs half less than that apple."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

The average American man is only five feet nine and a half — less than an inch taller than the average soldier during the Revolutionary War.

The New Yorker

Most people buy a half (less than $5), or else ask to have the whole sandwich split into halves or thirds to share with friends.

The New York Times

The fixed rate plan costs about 6.59 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity in Westchester, about a penny and a half less than the company's similar plan in Manhattan, Mr. Sorenson said.

The New York Times

After all, just this week the World Bank said South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, with the top 10% of the population accounting for 58% of its income and the bottom half less than 8%.

The Guardian - Opinion

Middle East energy consumption is increased by 2.1% in 2016, which is half less than its ten-year average (+ 4.5%).

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 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

2. Be Realistic - Assume Less Than Half Is Yours.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two quantities, ensure that it's clear which quantity is being halved relative to the other to avoid ambiguity. For example, clarify: "The new budget is "half less than" the previous one".

Common error

Avoid using "half less than" when you mean "less than half." "Half less than" implies a specific reduction where the result is half of the original value subtracted from the original value, while "less than half" means it is below 50% of the original value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half less than" functions primarily as a comparative quantifier, indicating that one quantity is reduced by half in relation to another. As verified by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half less than" is grammatically sound and serves to precisely quantify a reduction. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for use in written English. It appears in news, science, and formal contexts. Care should be taken to differentiate it from "less than half", as the former indicates a specific 50% reduction. To avoid ambiguity, be explicit about the quantities being compared. Alternative phrases such as "reduced by half" or "50 percent decrease" can be used for clarity. When in doubt, consider the context to make sure you’re expressing the intended reduction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Half the amount

Highlights the resulting quantity, focusing on what remains after the reduction.

Reduced by half

Focuses on the action of reducing, highlighting the change that occurred.

Cut in half

A more informal and visual way to describe the reduction.

A reduction of fifty percent

Emphasizes the percentage of decrease, making it more explicit.

Fifty percent smaller

Emphasizes the size difference after the reduction.

Fifty percent decrease

A more direct and statistically focused way of expressing the reduction.

Slashed by 50%

More aggressive language to show decrease.

Marked down by half

Specific context of prices and sales.

Diminished by fifty percent

Formal and statistically focused way of expressing the reduction.

Lessen by half

Focuses on the action of lessening, highlighting the change that occurred.

FAQs

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

Use "half less than" to indicate a specific reduction where the resulting quantity is equal to the starting amount minus half of its value. For instance: "The revised estimate is "half less than" the initial projection." This clarifies a significant reduction of 50%.

What's the difference between "half less than" and "less than half"?

"Half less than" refers to a quantity reduced by half its original value, resulting in a specific 50% reduction. "Less than half", on the other hand, simply means a quantity that is below 50% of the initial value. For example, if a price is "less than half", it could be any value below 50%.

What are some alternatives to using "half less than"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "reduced by half", "50 percent decrease", or "cut in half". These alternatives provide clarity while maintaining the meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "half less than"?

Yes, "half less than" is grammatically correct when used to describe a quantity that has been reduced by half of its original value. However, ensure the context clearly indicates that a 50% reduction is intended to avoid any ambiguity.