half of the class

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half of the class" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation or group that has been divided in two. For example: "Half of the class had finished the exam while the other half was still working."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

First half of the class, metaphysics; second half of the class, value theory.

Yale University

But was now in the bottom half of the class.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Subject will take place in the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Norfolk with half of the class from MIT and half of the class from MCI-Norfolk.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

So we all know how to do this from the first half of the class.

Yale University

We want to be able to use the idea of Nash equilibrium from the first half of the class, and we want to be able to use the idea of backward induction from the second half of the class.

Yale University

Half of the class sessions will be lectures focused on the nuts and bolts of building an aerospace startup.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Each Spring, one-third to one-half of the class has chosen BC as their weekly homework option.

CBE Life Sciences Education

The second half of the class was spent on a different kind of idea generation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The second half of the class period focused on the calculation and comparison of flooding areas based on water levels.

The New York Times

From there, we began to develop first versions of several of the concepts that we will test with the public in our second half of the class.

Stanford University

Interaction with small groups of students is something we want to learn more about in the second half of the class and beyond as we seek to make our MOOC better.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "half of the class", ensure the context clearly defines the group being referenced to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "half of the graduating class" or "half of the students in the advanced math class".

Common error

Avoid assuming "half of the class" always refers to a 50/50 split when the class size is an odd number. Be prepared to clarify whether you're referring to the nearest whole number or an approximate division.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half of the class" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a partitive construction. It indicates a portion of a group, typically students in an educational setting. Ludwig shows numerous examples in academic contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

52%

News & Media

36%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "half of the class" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote a portion of a student group. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and widely used. It finds its primary contexts in academia, news media, and scientific publications. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying which class is being referenced. Alternatives include "fifty percent of the class" for more formal settings. Be mindful of the potential for ambiguity when class sizes are odd. Top sources like The New York Times and MIT demonstrate its consistent application in various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fifty percent of the class

Replaces the fractional term with a percentage.

a segment of the class

Uses a more general term for a portion of the group.

part of the class

A broader term indicating an unspecified portion.

a share of the class

Emphasizes the portion as a contribution or allotment.

some of the class

Indicates an indefinite, but not necessarily large, portion.

a section of the class

Suggests a division or grouping within the class.

the remaining portion of the class

Focuses on the half that remains after something has been removed or separated.

those in the class

Refers to a group within the class.

a considerable number of students

Emphasizes the quantity of students, without specifying the portion.

a noticeable fraction of students

Highlights that the number of students represents a noteworthy proportion.

FAQs

How can I use "half of the class" in a sentence?

You can use "half of the class" to describe a proportion of students. For example, "Half of the class passed the exam", or "The teacher divided "half of the class" into groups".

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

In a more formal context, you could use "fifty percent of the class". This alternative is more precise and avoids ambiguity.

Is it correct to say "halves of the class"?

No, "halves of the class" is not standard English. The correct phrasing is ""half of the class"", even when referring to multiple instances of division.

What does "half of the class" imply about the other half?

"Half of the class" usually implies that the remaining portion constitutes the other half. However, context is important. For instance, you might follow up with, "The other portion was absent", to provide the full picture.