half than

USAGE SUMMARY

'half than' is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
The correct phrase would be 'less than' to indicate something is smaller in comparison to something else. Example: The average cost of living in this town is less than half than the average of the surrounding cities.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

"I thought we looked much better in the first half than the second.

Independent

In Padraic Arthur Smithies's translation, "Perpetuating Power" is shorter by about half than the original.

The New York Times - Books

West Virginia scored more points in the half than in its four previous games combined.

The New York Times - Sports

At least they've made a better start to this half than they managed in the first.

The Guardian - Sport

This was faster by half than pan-frying, but it produced chicken that was dry, crusty, and unevenly done.

The New Yorker

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Friday nights draw more people, usually 30, a bigger turnout by half than Saturday morning.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

As a general limitation, the trial is penalised by a half-than-expected accrual that have greatly reduced its statistical power.

British Journal of Cancer

Jérôme Boateng 6 Surely stronger at centre-half than full-back, the fdefender conceded a dangerous free-kick wasted by Mata with a foul on Cahill.

The Guardian - Sport

Quiz shows consume more hours of weekly prime time -- six and a half -- than at any point since the 1950's.

The New York Times - Style

Given the high outcrossing rates in this species, progeny are more likely to be half- than full-sibs.

Evolutionary Applications

In addition, we found that tularemia incidence was almost 10-fold higher in the second half than in the first half of the study period.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "half than" in formal writing. Replace it with grammatically correct alternatives like "less than half of" or "smaller than half of" for clarity and accuracy.

Common error

A common mistake is to directly translate comparative logic from other languages. In English, always ensure that comparative structures like "less than", "greater than", or "more than" are followed by the correct grammatical elements, and avoid incorrect constructs like "half than".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half than" functions as an incorrect comparative. Ludwig AI points out that it does not follow standard English grammar rules. It is intended to express that one quantity or value is less than half of another, but it fails to do so grammatically.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

45%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half than" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct comparative form would be "less than half of" or a similar alternative. Although examples of its use exist in various sources, predominantly News & Media and Scientific contexts, these instances likely represent errors rather than established usage. To maintain clarity and professionalism, writers should opt for grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not even half of

Highlights that something does not reach even the halfway point of a certain amount.

less than half of

Specifies a quantity that is smaller than 50% of a particular value or amount.

considerably less than half

Suggests a noticeable difference where one quantity is significantly smaller than half of another.

well under half

Highlights a substantial margin by which something is less than half.

smaller than half of

Indicates something is not only less than something else but specifically less than its half.

significantly lower than half

Emphasizes that the compared value is substantially below the halfway mark.

not as much as half of

Emphasizes that the quantity is significantly below half of another quantity.

less than fifty percent of

A more formal and explicit way of stating that something is below half.

a minority compared to

Shifts the comparison to a concept of majority versus minority rather than precise fractions.

a fraction of

Implies that one quantity is a small, unspecified part of another.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something is less than half of another thing?

Instead of the incorrect phrase "half than", you should use alternatives such as "less than half of", "smaller than half of", or "not even half of" to clearly indicate the reduced quantity.

Is "half than" grammatically correct?

No, "half than" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct comparative constructions use phrases like "less than" or "smaller than" to show a comparison.

How can I rephrase "half than" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, substitute "half than" with phrases like "less than fifty percent", "a minority compared to", or "considerably less than half". These alternatives provide greater clarity and grammatical accuracy.

What is a common error to avoid when making comparisons?

One common error is using incorrect comparative structures such as "half than". Always ensure the correct use of comparative words and structures such as the appropriate use of comparative such as less than or "greater than" in your sentences to maintain grammatical accuracy.