half of the students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Half of the students" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to refer to a group of students and indicate that only half of them are involved in the situation. For example: "Half of the students decided to take the bus to school, while the other half chose to walk."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More than half of the students receive financial aid.

The New York Times

One half of the students also received prompts designed to encourage self-monitoring.

Contemporary Educational Psychology

About half of the students in schools and universities in Herat are female.

The New York Times

More than half of the students are black, and more than one-third are Hispanic.

The New York Times

Half of the students live in refugee shelters, and many lost one or both parents.

The New York Times

More than half of the students were performing below grade level.

The New Yorker

About half of the students come through Logan's courtroom in Huntingdon.

The New York Times - Sports

Again, nearly half of the students surveyed met the criteria for burnout.

The New York Times - Health

Today, half of the students are women and 30percentt are black, Hispanic or Asian.

The New York Times

About half of the students opted to take themselves out of the running right away.

The New York Times

Poverty is an ingredient as well, with half of the students qualifying for subsidized lunches.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "half of the students", ensure clarity about the group being referenced. Is it all students in a school, a specific class, or a particular demographic?

Common error

Avoid assuming "half of the students" always represents a substantial portion in practical terms. In a very small group, half might be only a few individuals, making it less impactful than implied.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half of the students" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun. It specifies a quantity or proportion of the students being discussed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

28%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half of the students" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote that 50% of a student population is involved in a particular situation. Ludwig AI validates this, showing its presence in diverse sources like science, news, and academia. When employing this phrase, clarity regarding the specific student group is crucial. Consider alternatives like "50% of the students" for greater precision in formal contexts. While "half of the students" can imply a significant portion, remember that the absolute number can be small if the total student population is limited.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

50% of the students

Uses a numerical percentage to express the proportion, offering a more precise and formal tone.

approximately half of the students

Introduces slight uncertainty, suggesting the proportion is close to but not exactly half.

around half of the students

Similar to "approximately half", indicating an estimated proportion.

fifty percent of the pupils

Replaces students with pupils and uses the numerical percentage.

nearly half of the students

Suggests the proportion is slightly less than half.

one half of the student body

Replaces "students" with "student body", referring to the entire student population.

just under half of the students

More explicitly indicates the proportion is a bit below half.

a portion of the students

Indicates an unspecified fraction of the students, less precise than "half".

a segment of the students

Refers to a specific group or section within the students, implying a division.

a significant number of students

Emphasizes that a notable portion of the students are affected, without specifying the exact proportion.

FAQs

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

You can use "half of the students" to describe a proportion within a group. For example, "Half of the students passed the exam", or "Half of the students are involved in extracurricular activities".

What are some alternatives to saying "half of the students"?

Alternatives include "50 percent of the students", "approximately half of the students", or "around half of the students" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "half of the students" or "50% of the students"?

Both are grammatically correct. "Half of the students" is generally more informal, while "50% of the students" is more formal and precise. The best choice depends on the tone and audience.

Is it correct to say "more than half of the students"?

Yes, it is correct. "More than half of the students" indicates that the proportion is greater than 50%. It is a common and accepted phrase.