half of the time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half of the time" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when discussing how often something happens or is done. For example, "Im only able to spend half of the time I'd like with my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"That was half of the time.

The Guardian - Sport

Roughly half of the time, parents "just took off".

The Economist

The other half of the time you get in.

The New York Times - Sports

About half of the time, the order is violated.

The New York Times

Last fall, Pacific Lutheran passed almost half of the time.

The New York Times - Sports

"I don't even understand it half of the time.

The New York Times - Sports

Even worse, these checklists are followed only about half of the time, the study found.

Columbia University

The other half of the time, the patients deliberately chose not to take the medication correctly.

Harvard University

In fact what we're arguing here is they'd meet less than half of the time.

Yale University

This refinement reduces half of the time computation and then allows considering larger data sets.

Future Generation Computer Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

There seems to be a slight increase in the second half of the time under study.

Latin American Economic Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "half of the time" to clearly and concisely indicate that something occurs in approximately 50% of instances or situations. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "half of the time" when you're trying to explain a cause-and-effect relationship. This phrase describes frequency, not causation. For explaining causes, use phrases like "due to", "because of", or "as a result of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half of the time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the frequency or proportion of occurrences, specifying that something happens in approximately 50% of instances. Ludwig provides various examples of its usage in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

29%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "half of the time" is a versatile and commonly used prepositional phrase that specifies a frequency of approximately 50%. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and readily understood. Predominantly featured in News & Media, Science and Academia, its usage spans across various contexts, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects frequency rather than causation and consider its suitability compared to alternatives like ""fifty percent of the time"" for greater formality. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase the phrase's diverse applications and reinforce its importance as an effective means of conveying proportional occurrence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fifty percent of the time

Replaces the fraction "half" with its numerical equivalent, emphasizing a precise proportion.

about half the time

Adds a qualifier to indicate an approximation, suggesting the frequency is near 50% but not exact.

roughly half the time

Similar to "about half the time", but with a slightly more informal tone.

in half of the instances

Replaces "time" with "instances", focusing on specific occurrences rather than a general period.

on approximately half of occasions

A more formal alternative that emphasizes specific events or opportunities.

fifty-fifty

An informal expression implying equal probability or distribution.

an equal amount of time

Focuses on the duration rather than the frequency of occurrence.

every other time

Emphasizes alternation, suggesting the event happens on alternating occasions.

semi-frequently

A single word expressing a moderate level of frequency.

at the midpoint of the duration

Emphasizes that it happens during the center point of the entire time duration

FAQs

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

Use "half of the time" to indicate that something happens in approximately 50% of instances. For example, "Half of the time, the bus is late."

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

Alternatives include "fifty percent of the time", "about half the time", or "roughly half the time" depending on the level of formality and desired precision.

Is it more appropriate to use "half of the time" or "50% of the time"?

Both are correct, but "half of the time" is generally considered more informal and suitable for everyday conversation, while "50% of the time" might be preferred in more formal or technical contexts.

What's the difference between "half of the time" and "sometimes"?

"Half of the time" suggests a specific frequency of approximately 50%, whereas "sometimes" is a more general term indicating that something occurs occasionally but without specifying how often.