half the fine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half the fine" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a penalty or fee that is reduced to 50% of its original amount. Example: "If you pay the fine within the next week, you will only have to pay half the fine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Johnson's teammate Shawne Merriman, who is on injured reserve, took to Twitter almost immediately to (sort of) criticize him: Never tweet during the game but what @StevieJohnson13 did was disrespectful & not needed & should never happen in the #NFL so ill pay half the fine HA! 5 39 p.m. | Updated After the game, Johnson admitted the celebration had been a mistake.

The New York Times

There were suggestions last night that the $340m was half the fine the DFS had asked for.

The Guardian - Business

The 1899 act provided for up to half the fine to be paid to those who had provided the information leading to a conviction.

The New York Times

B3 SPORTS D1-8 Union Fines Tiger Woods The Screen Actors Guild fined Tiger Woods $100,000 for shooting a nonunion Buick commercial during the six-month strike against advertisers, although half the fine was suspended, Daily Variety reported.

The New York Times

The news was reported yesterday by the Denver Post, which notes that Uber has 10 days to pay half the fine or request a hearing to contest it.

TechCrunch

Update (11/28/16 4 34pm) "We are pleased to reach a settlement with the California Department of Insurance, which recognized our remediation efforts by suspending half the fine," a Zenefits spokesperson told TechCrunch.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Exxon had two years to pay its fines for the Valdez spill, but a cautious investor might assume BP would have to pay half the fines in 2010.

The New York Times

Less than half of the fine particular matter seen in many European countries actually results from emissions within the country's own borders, the report found.

The New York Times

Gore-Coty was fined 30,000 euros ($34,000) and Simphal 20,000 ($22,000) euros, in each case half of the fine was suspended.

Vice

In the previous settlements with UBS and Citigroup, New York received half the fines and the rest was distributed among other states.

The New York Times

In 1970, he discovered a dusty 1899 statute, the Refuse Act, which allowed individuals to force action against polluters and be entitled to half the fines imposed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or financial matters, ensure that the context clearly defines what the original amount of the "fine" was before specifying "half the fine".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase without first establishing the full amount of the fine; otherwise, it lacks necessary context and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half the fine" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to a specific portion (50%) of a financial penalty. Ludwig examples support this function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "half the fine" correctly denotes 50% of a financial penalty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and indicates its typical use in neutral contexts such as news, legal, and business settings. While relatively uncommon, the phrase is unambiguous and readily understood. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the total amount before specifying the reduced portion. Consider alternative phrasings, such as "50% of the fine" or "a reduced penalty", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

50% of the fine

Expresses the same quantity using a percentage.

half of the penalty

Replaces "fine" with the synonym "penalty".

50 percent of the fee

Replaces "fine" with "fee" and expresses "half" as a percentage.

a reduced fine

Focuses on the state of being reduced, without specifying the exact amount.

partial fine payment

Emphasizes that only a portion of the fine is being paid.

fine reduction of 50%

Reorders the words to emphasize the reduction aspect.

half the assessed penalty

Adds the adjective "assessed" to clarify the penalty's origin.

a moiety of the fine

Uses the more formal word "moiety" to mean half.

halving the fine amount

Focuses on the action of reducing the fine.

50 percent discount on the fine

Describes the reduction as a "discount".

FAQs

How can I phrase paying only a portion of a fine?

You can describe paying only a portion of a fine using phrases like "50% of the fine", "half of the penalty", or a "partial fine payment".

What does it mean when someone says "half the fine" was suspended?

It means that the person or entity responsible for paying the fine only needs to pay 50% of the original amount, while the remaining 50% is waived or cancelled.

Is it correct to say "half of the fine" instead of "half the fine"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and commonly used. "Half of the fine" may sound slightly more formal, but they are largely interchangeable.

What alternatives are there to "a reduced fine"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "discount on the fine", "partial fine payment", or "a fine reduction".