half the height

USAGE SUMMARY

'half the height' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when you want to describe a measurement that is equal to half the value of a particular height. For example, you could say, "The area was only half the height of the room, so we had to modify our plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It would be about 14 stories, roughly half the height of the nearby Schomburg Plaza.

The New York Times

The concept car's tires stood nearly 29 inches tall, almost half the height of the vehicle.

The New York Times

It once rose to a height of almost 15 metres, half the height of Silbury near Avebury.

The Guardian

No. It's in the lowish stratosphere, just over half the height that Felix Baumgartner managed in a balloon.

The Guardian - Business

Western experts say the IR-2 is roughly half the height of Iran's original machine but spins twice as fast.

The New York Times

Rob, who, like everyone else, was not laughing, pointed out that we were currently at half the height of Mount Everest.

The New York Times - Sports

The moon is almost half the height of the stage, and for some reason is visible (indeed dominant) throughout the ballroom third act.

The New York Times - Arts

This former 13th-century royal capital crafted out of an outcrop half the height of Sigiriya even hosted the Buddha's tooth that's now in Kandy (see above) for a time, though few visitors make it here now.

The Guardian - Travel

The head on such figures was half the height of the whole post; it was shaped like an elongated diamond and had circular eyes, a long nose, and a crescent-shaped mouth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the roped-off intersection, there was too much to see: snakes in grimy glass cages, a panther in a boxcar on wheels weaving from side to side in menace, a bald red wildcat in a harness hissing at passersby, a baby giraffe in a cage half the height of a building.

The New Yorker

Larger machines tend to make a rectangular loaf, like traditional farmhouse bread.You can make a small loaf in these; however, it will be shaped like a classic loaf in length and width but only half the height" Atkinson warns that a breadmaker takes up a fair amount of room, so choose a machine that either stores easily or fits the space you have.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing heights, ensure the objects or references being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The smaller building is half the height of the skyscraper."

Common error

Avoid using "half the height" when a more precise measurement or descriptive comparison would be more appropriate. For instance, instead of "The wave was half the height of the building", provide the approximate height of the wave in meters or feet to offer a clearer picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half the height" functions primarily as a modifier, specifically describing a dimension that is equivalent to one-half of a certain vertical measurement. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in comparisons and descriptions across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

34%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "half the height" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase across diverse contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves to provide a relative measurement, indicating that one dimension is equal to one-half of another. The phrase's neutral formality makes it appropriate for use in news, scientific writing, and general communication. Related phrases include "50% of the height" and "half the altitude". When using this phrase, ensure that the objects being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

50% of the height

Expresses the same proportion using a percentage instead of a fraction.

50 percent of the height

Expresses same meaning with 50 percent instead of half.

equal to half the height

Adds emphasis by explicitly stating the equality.

one half the height

Uses 'one half' instead of 'half' for a slightly more formal tone.

half the altitude

Replaces 'height' with 'altitude', emphasizing vertical distance above a reference point.

at half the height

Adds the preposition "at", to indicate that something is located at that height.

half of the elevation

Replaces 'height' with 'elevation', suitable when referring to a geographical feature or object above a certain level.

half the vertical dimension

Uses a more formal term, 'vertical dimension', instead of 'height'.

down to half the height

Adds the adverb "down", to indicate that something has reduced to that height.

a height of half

Reverses the structure to emphasize height as a measurement.

FAQs

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

You can use "half the height" to describe the relative size of one object compared to another. For example, "The model building was "half the height" of the original structure."

What phrases are similar to "half the height"?

Similar phrases include "50 percent of the height", "half the altitude", or "equal to "half the vertical dimension"", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "half the height" or "one-half the height"?

Both ""half the height"" and "one-half the height" are grammatically correct. "Half the height" is more common in everyday language, while "one-half the height" might be used in more formal contexts.

Can "half the height" be used in scientific writing?

Yes, ""half the height"" can be used in scientific writing to describe relative dimensions or proportions. For example, "The new structure had "half the height" of the original prototype."