half the whole

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "half the whole" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quantity that is 50% of a total amount or to emphasize the concept of division of a complete entity. Example: "If you take half the whole of the cake, there will still be enough left for everyone else."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

In the first half the whole group were half a yard off the pace.

The Guardian - Sport

The nasu shigiyaki — grilled eggplant with miso — came as half the whole vegetable, sliced vertically and cooked to a beautiful deep purple.

The New York Times

In that hour and a half the whole crimped, swirling, haunted life of Robert Grainier rattles through the forests of your mind like the whistle of the Spokane International he hears so often in his dreams.

The New York Times - Books

I leave my phone recording normally – but there was a time when I hadn't taken my phone in and I came up with a fantastic melody – I couldn't forget it, so I literally had to sing it for an hour and a half, the whole journey home.

The Guardian - Music

"We haven't had many wobbles and we've been in the top half the whole season.

BBC

"Second half, the whole style of the game changes, Partick could sit in and hit us on the counter attack and, all credit to them, they did that.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In terms of biography, Roy Keane's The Second Half led the whole time, with Kevin Pietersen in second place and Stephen Fry's More Fool Me in third.

The Guardian - Books

Imagine, for instance, that a small group of investors holds half of the tokens in a cryptocurrency, and then distributes the other half to the whole world as a basic income.

Vice

One sequence late in the first half told the whole story.

The New York Times - Sports

That win moved them out of the relegation places and saw Millwall drop into the bottom half, though the whole table remains tightly packed.

The Guardian - Sport

"The other half of the time, the list of links would grow and grow and eventually we'd find 100 million other pages -- half of the whole universe".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "half the whole", ensure that the context clearly defines what constitutes the "whole" being referred to, especially in technical or scientific writing, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "half the whole" without clearly defining what the "whole" represents. This can lead to confusion, especially when dealing with abstract or complex concepts. Be specific to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "half the whole" functions as a determiner phrase, specifying a quantity equivalent to one half of a defined entirety. Ludwig indicates its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "half the whole" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to express that a quantity represents 50% of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used across various contexts, including news, science, and general reference. While its use is widespread, clarity is key: ensure that the "whole" being referred to is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "fifty percent of the total" or "one half of the entirety", which can be more formal or precise, depending on the context. Using "half the whole" effectively involves ensuring both grammatical correctness and contextual clarity, as well as clearly defining what the "whole" represents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fifty percent of the total

Replaces the fraction with a percentage, emphasizing a precise quantity.

one half of the entirety

Uses more formal language to express the same concept.

a portion of the total

More general; doesn't specify the exact fraction.

part of the sum

Focuses on the idea of a fraction of a sum or quantity.

fraction of the total

Emphasizes that it's not necessarily 50%, but some fractional amount of the whole.

segment of the entire amount

Highlights that the quantity is a segment or piece of the entire amount

fifty percent of the aggregate

Uses "aggregate" to refer to the whole, which is more formal.

a section of the entire

Highlights that the quantity is a section or piece of the entire quantity.

part of the collective

Highlights that the quantity is a member of a collective.

some portion of everything

Expresses the idea of a fraction using a more evocative tone.

FAQs

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

The phrase "half the whole" is used to describe a quantity that represents 50% of a complete entity. For example, "Half the whole pizza was gone after the party."

What is a more formal way to say "half the whole"?

Alternatives to "half the whole" in more formal contexts include "fifty percent of the total" or "one half of the entirety".

Is it better to use "half of the whole" or "half the whole"?

Both "half of the whole" and "half the whole" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. However, "half the whole" is slightly more concise.

When should I avoid using the phrase "half the whole"?

Avoid using "half the whole" in situations where the "whole" is not clearly defined or understood by your audience, as this can lead to ambiguity. Instead, try to express the same meaning using clearer phrases, like "fifty percent of" the specific quantity or item in question.