half the job

USAGE SUMMARY

'half the job' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that only or partially part of the job has been completed. For example: "We've done half the job of moving the furniture, but there's still more to do."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Understanding the KPIs and goals of stakeholders is only half the job.

Communicating the UX Vision 13 Anti-Patterns That Block Good Ideas

For starters, half the job has been done already.

The New York Times

"It's half the job done," the Ireland captain, Brian O'Driscoll, said in a televised interview.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's like half the job is done, but the rest is not an easy ride".

The New York Times

Scoring, however, is only half the job where Puyol is concerned.

The New York Times

But, having secured power, Mr Tusk has done only half the job.

The Economist

Designing the antenna is only half the job because its placement can affect its behavior.

The New York Times - Tech

If the Fed was aiming to increase the confidence of financial market participants, the cut did only half the job.

The New York Times

Absent these changes the bill only did "half the job that is required to fix the system", Williams said.

The Guardian

Heinrichs stresses that recruitment is only half the job: you have to work hard to retain women.

The Guardian - Sport

But getting hold of brake pads was only half the job, I also had to fit them.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "half the job", ensure it's followed by a clear indication of what remains to be done. This provides context and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid complacency after completing "half the job". Recognize that the remaining portion might require significantly more effort or resources than the initial part.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half the job" functions as a quantifier followed by a noun phrase. It modifies a noun (job) to indicate that only a portion of the task has been completed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half the job" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that only a portion of a task or objective has been completed. As Ludwig AI states, it's a perfectly usable phrase. It carries a neutral tone and is frequently found in "News & Media", as well as academic and business contexts. Remember to provide context after using the phrase to clarify what remains to be done. While it signifies progress, one must avoid complacency, understanding that the rest of the task might require more effort. Closely related phrases include "partially completed", "halfway there", and "partially done", each carrying a similar nuance. Therefore, "half the job" is a versatile way to express partial completion, provided its usage is coupled with clarity and realistic expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

halfway there

Indicates progress towards a goal, suggesting that the journey is only partially done.

partially done

Emphasizes the state of being incomplete, with some work already accomplished.

partially completed

Focuses on the degree of completion, emphasizing that only a portion is finished.

incomplete

Highlights the lack of full completion, focusing on what remains to be done.

stage one complete

Suggests that one phase of a multi-stage task has been successfully finished.

initial phase finished

Focuses on the completion of the earliest part of a process or project.

a good start

Implies that while progress has been made, more effort is still required.

just begun

Highlights the early stage of the activity, with much more to follow.

work in progress

Indicates that something is currently being developed or completed, but is not yet finished.

part of the solution

Suggests that while progress has been made, the task is not fully completed or resolved.

FAQs

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

You can use "half the job" to indicate that something is partially completed. For example: "Getting the data was only "half the job"; we still need to analyze it."

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

Alternatives include phrases like "partially completed", "halfway there", or "partially done", depending on the context.

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

Both "half the job" and "half of the job" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. "Half the job" is slightly more concise and commonly used.

What does it mean when someone says that something is "only half the job"?

It means that while progress has been made, a significant portion of the task or effort remains to be completed. It emphasizes that there is more work ahead.