half of all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'half of all' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use the phrase to express that half of the total number of a certain something is meant. For example: "Half of all the students in the classroom got up to leave."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Half of all voters are registered independents.

The Economist

Half of all teachers are over 50.

The Economist

Half of all patients are children.

The New York Times - Health

That's almost half of all women!

Harvard University

Half of all disciplinary cases involved driving.

Princeton University

Over half of all military wives work.

The Washington Post

You can't typecast half of all voters.

The New Yorker

Half of all Americans would climb aboard.

The Guardian

Half of all refugees were children.

The Guardian

Half of all children here are malnourished.

The New York Times

Half of all victims were women.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "half of all", ensure that the context clearly defines what 'all' refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader. For instance, specify "half of all registered voters" instead of just "half of all".

Common error

Avoid using "half of all" when referring to non-countable nouns. For example, instead of saying "half of all water", specify "half of all the water in the reservoir" to indicate a defined quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half of all" functions as a quantifier, specifying that fifty percent of a particular group or category is being referred to. Ludwig AI indicates its broad acceptance and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

28%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "half of all" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to denote 50% of a given group or category. Ludwig AI confirms its broad acceptance in written English. It is versatile enough for use in various contexts, from news reports and academic papers to everyday conversations. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the 'all' being referenced to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "50 percent of all" exist for more formal contexts, "half of all" remains a straightforward and commonly understood way to express proportion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

50 percent of all

Expresses the same proportion using a percentage instead of a fraction.

fifty percent of all

Spells out 'fifty' instead of using the numeral '50'.

roughly half of all

Introduces approximation, acknowledging that the proportion might not be exactly half.

one half of all

More verbose version of the original phrase, emphasizing the fraction.

approximately 50% of all

Combines approximation with percentage to introduce flexibility.

half the total number of

Focuses on the total quantity before taking half.

a proportion of fifty percent

Rephrases to emphasize the proportional aspect rather than direct quantity.

fifty out of every hundred

Illustrates the proportion in a more descriptive manner.

a moiety of all

Uses the term 'moiety' which is a more formal or technical way to say half.

in half of all

Adds a preposition to specify that something exists or happens within the stated proportion.

FAQs

How can I use "half of all" in a sentence?

Use "half of all" to indicate that 50% of a group or category is being referenced. For example, "Half of all students passed the exam".

What's a more formal way to say "half of all"?

For a more formal tone, you could use "50 percent of all" or "one half of all". These alternatives maintain precision while sounding more elevated.

Is it ever incorrect to use "half of all"?

It's important to ensure clarity when using "half of all". Avoid using it when 'all' isn't clearly defined, or when referring to something non-countable without specifying a quantity.

What's the difference between "half of all" and "most of all"?

"Half of all" refers specifically to 50% of a defined group. "Most of all" indicates a majority but doesn't provide a specific quantity and can be used to highlight importance or preference rather than proportion.