half of miles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half of miles" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used incorrectly when trying to express a measurement of distance, as "miles" should be singular when referring to a fraction. Example: "I walked half a mile to get to the store."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That's indefensible, since the Department of Transportation already considers more than half of miles driven on pavement as less than "good ride quality," and that backlogged repair projects can be undertaken quickly, generating nine percent more than new highway construction.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Forecasters also predict that heavy bursts of snow will limit visibility on the roads at times to between half of a mile and one mile.

Huffington Post

(About half of all miles given out these days, in fact, do not involve flying).

The New York Times

More than half of all miles are earned on the ground, notably on credit cards linked to airlines' programmes or on telephone calls.

The Economist

After walking approximately half of a mile, pick up the pace to ultimately jogging or walking a 15 minute mile if your dog is in good shape.

WikiHow

LOCATION On the northern half of Seven Mile Island, which it shares with Stone Harbor.

The New York Times - Travel

For nearly a half of the mile climb, Animal Kingdom looked like the horse most people thought he was.

The New York Times - Sports

Needles didn't settle down to running until he had covered about half of the mile and a furlong.

The New Yorker

There are buildings half of a mile away that twenty years later still bear scars from the bombing.

Huffington Post

A massive multivortex tornado has broken out in Oklahoma, reportedly close to half of a mile wide.

Huffington Post

About half of a mile (0.8 km) from where the highway begins, OR 120 crosses the Columbia Slough Bridge.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a fraction of a mile, always use the singular form "mile". For example, use "half a mile" or "half of a mile".

Common error

Avoid using the plural "miles" when referring to a fraction of a single mile. Saying "half of miles" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for "half a mile" or "half of a mile".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half of miles" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies this as an error. A more appropriate phrase would be "half a mile" or "half of a mile".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

20%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half of miles" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the proper phrasing is "half a mile" or "half of a mile" when referring to a distance. While examples of the incorrect usage exist, especially in News & Media and Wiki, it's essential to adhere to standard grammar for clear and effective communication. Using the correct phrasing ensures accuracy and maintains a formal tone. Remember that "mile" should be singular when describing a fraction of a single mile.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

half a mile

Uses the correct singular form of "mile" when referring to a fraction of a mile.

half of a mile

Another grammatically correct way to express the same distance, explicitly including "a".

half the distance in miles

Rephrases to focus on "distance" measured in miles, making the structure grammatically sound.

fifty percent of the miles

Uses percentage to represent "half", changing the grammatical structure.

a distance of half a mile

Rephrases to emphasize the measurement of distance.

one half mile

Expresses the distance numerically then specifies the unit.

a half-mile distance

Uses a hyphenated adjective to describe the length.

portion of the total miles

Using the word portion which is more general.

fraction of the total miles

Focuses on a fraction of the total distance.

some of the miles

More vague way to indicate distance.

FAQs

How do I correctly express a distance that is less than a full mile?

Use "half a mile" or "half of a mile". The word "mile" should be singular when referring to a portion of a single mile.

Is it ever correct to say "half of miles"?

No, "half of miles" is generally considered grammatically incorrect when referring to a distance. Instead, use the singular form: "half a mile" or "half of a mile".

What's the difference between "half a mile" and "half of a mile"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and essentially mean the same thing. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.

Are there other ways to express the idea of a distance of "half a mile"?

Yes, you could say "a distance of half a mile" or use a decimal representation like "0.5 miles". The key is to maintain grammatical correctness by using the singular form "mile".