half the competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half the competition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a situation where a person or entity is competing against a portion of the total competitors in a given context, often implying a significant advantage or a reduced level of challenge. Example: "By entering the market early, we managed to capture half the competition before they even had a chance to establish themselves."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Business

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Priced at half the competition's.

Forbes

One of the reasons Chrysler's product development costs are so low (2.7% of revenues, half the competition's) is that the suppliers do much of the work.

Forbes

"You talk to Adam Pearson at Hull and he would love to play in it, Mike Smith at Hull KR, Christophe [Jouffret] at Catalans would love to be in it and [Warrington's owner] Simon Moran is a huge fan so easily half the competition want to be in it and I don't think anything you've seen over the weekend will change that," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

We've done what half the competition haven't and it's the first time for 80 years for this club so it's a proud achievement.

BBC

Wagoner's settlement included a similar provision that lasts just five years, so since then, he's switched to conventional, non-RoundUp Ready seeds, which cost about half the competition but require you to use more herbicide to control weeds.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

One of Falconer's favorites from the past decade and a half is "The Competition," shown below.

The New Yorker

The Warriors set alight the back half of the competition in 2011 and stunned many by reaching the grand final.

The Guardian - Sport

Greece's Olympic organizing committee has completed work on fewer than half of the competition facilities for the Athens Games.

The New York Times - Sports

That gave her three bona-fide chances at a gold medal in the first half of the competition, and Vonn considered herself lucky.

The New York Times - Sports

Things lagged a bit in the first half of the competition, which was taken up with mounted games like spearing targets painted on bales of hay.

The New York Times - Magazine

Vera is half of the competition barbecue team called Holy Smoke BBQ with his brother, J.R., and they compete as often as they can.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing costs, use "half the competition's" to clearly indicate that you're referencing the costs of other competitors, not just half of the general market.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by specifying what "the competition" refers to. For instance, instead of saying "our product costs half the competition", clarify by saying "our product costs half of what our main competitors charge".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half the competition" typically functions as a quantifier within a comparison. It modifies a noun (often implied, like cost or size) to indicate that something is 50% of what the competition is. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in comparative contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half the competition" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express a significant difference or advantage compared to competitors. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's often used in business and news contexts to highlight cost savings or market advantages. For best usage, ensure that the context clearly defines what "the competition" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. While generally neutral, consider the specific audience and adjust formality as needed. Alternatives include "a portion of the contenders" or "fifty percent of the participants", depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only some of the competition

Adds emphasis to the limited scope of the comparison, indicating a smaller segment.

fifty percent of the participants

Replaces "half" with a numerical percentage, emphasizing a precise quantity of the competitors.

a portion of the contenders

Emphasizes the contenders within the competition, implying a selected group.

a percentage of the entrants

Uses "entrants" to specify those who have entered the competition, quantifying a segment.

a segment of the competitors

Uses "segment" to denote a specific group within the overall competition.

a fraction of the rivals

Focuses on rivals instead of general competition and indicates a smaller, unspecified portion.

a number of those competing

Highlights the act of competing, focusing on a portion of the individuals involved.

some of the opposition

Focuses on the opposing entities, highlighting a subset of competitors.

part of the field

Uses "field" to refer to the competitors, suitable in contexts like sports or races.

a share of the adversaries

Emphasizes the adversarial aspect of the competition, referring to a portion of the opponents.

FAQs

How can I use "half the competition" in a sentence?

You can use "half the competition" to indicate a competitive advantage or a significant difference, such as "Our product development costs are "half the competition's", allowing us to offer lower prices".

What are some alternatives to saying "half the competition"?

Alternatives include "a portion of the contenders", "a fraction of the rivals", or "fifty percent of the participants", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "half the competition"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It's commonly used to make comparisons, such as stating that a product's price is lower than that of its competitors.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "half the competition"?

It is appropriate when you want to highlight a significant difference, typically a reduction or advantage, in comparison to other entities in a competitive field. For example, "Our costs are "half the competition's", allowing us to offer more competitive pricing".