half the length

USAGE SUMMARY

"half the length" is correct and usable in written English when referring to length or size.
For example, "The new fence is only half the length of the old fence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The 1978 movie is still available, and half the length.

The New York Times - Arts

That time trial was little more than half the length of Saturday's stage.

The New York Times - Sports

"He came half the length of the hall, and I have to respect that.

The New York Times - Sports

Two huge wings shaped from wood dominate half the length of the tall, grey Turbine Hall.

The Guardian - Arts

But at half the length, it felt more focused and carried greater impact.

The New York Times - Arts

Hulu is, however, cutting by half the length of traditional commercial breaks during its videos.

The New York Times

Today, I swam half the length of the pool before coming up for air.

The New York Times

Oh, and he'd just run half the length of the pitch to get there, too.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The petaloids that surround the disc are less than one-half the length of the ray florets.

Stanford University

It school be about the size of half the length of your book.

WikiHow

In space, their solar panels can unfurl to half the length of a football field.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing proportions, use "half the length" to clearly indicate a 50% relationship, enhancing precision in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "half the length" when you actually mean 'approximately half' or 'nearly half'. If the proportion isn't precisely 50%, choose a more appropriate quantifier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half the length" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used as an adjective phrase modifying another noun. It specifies a proportional dimension or measurement. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "half the length" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to specify a dimension that is 50% of a given measurement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s acceptable in written English across various contexts. It’s important to use it precisely when a 50% relationship is intended, and to consider alternatives when approximation is sufficient. This phrase appears frequently in news, general reference, and scientific contexts, making it a versatile tool for descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fifty percent of the length

Replaces "half" with its numerical equivalent, emphasizing the proportion more directly.

one-half of the length

Uses the fractional form of "half", which can sound slightly more formal.

halfway in length

Alters the word order while retaining the core meaning.

midway along the length

Focuses on the position rather than the proportion of the length.

fifty percent of its extent

Substitutes "length" with "extent", broadening the application to non-linear dimensions.

a length equal to one half

More verbose, but maintains the same quantitative relationship.

bisected length

Emphasizes the act of dividing the length into two equal parts.

50% of the measure

Uses a more technical term, "measure", appropriate in scientific or formal contexts.

reduced to half its length

Focuses on the action of shortening to half the original length.

medium long

Provides a simplified, less precise description of length, implying roughly half of a typical or expected length.

FAQs

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

Use "half the length" to indicate that something is 50% of a specific measurement, as in "The shorter rope was "half the length" of the original".

What phrases are similar to "half the length"?

Alternatives include "fifty percent of the length", "one-half of the length", or "midway along the length" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "half the length" or "half of the length"?

"Half the length" and "half of the length" are both grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Half the length" is slightly more concise and common in many contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "half the length" instead of another term for size?

Use "half the length" when you need to specify a precise proportional relationship in terms of linear dimension. If approximation is acceptable, consider alternatives like "nearly half the length" or "almost half the length".