halfway

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'halfway' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a middle point or a general situation that is partly completed. Example sentence: I'm halfway done with the project, so I'm feeling pretty good about it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We are halfway through the mandate argument; the SG is done.

The New York Times

Run from Carlisle to the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead in one day, or walk the route in two (there is free camping, hot showers and a real ale bar at the halfway point).

The Guardian - Travel

In matters of public education, which the religious right finds distasteful along moral lines, "they're already more than halfway there".

The Guardian

We were in the Wigmore Hall, halfway through an epic weekend of music, film, poetry and artwork from Terezín organised by the great London-based chamber music group the Nash Ensemble; an event previewed in this newspaper that has since spawned many adventures and encounters.

The Guardian - Music

Six buses lay gutted nearby, the driver of one thrown, dead, halfway through his window.

The Guardian

Anyone halfway sentient will surely read those words and wonder: who decides?

The Guardian - Opinion

Most of the activists I know engage in the odd nonviolent demonstration, like the protesters at Fortnum & Mason, some of whose guilty verdicts were overturned yesterday, or the people halfway up West Burton power station.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now Maradona's simple but well-timed pass over the halfway line caught the Germans fully committed to attack and left Burruchaga with a clear run towards Schumacher.

The Guardian - Sport

The Snowden revelations halfway through the last parliament led to profound discussions about surveillance, privacy and the extent of any necessity to inspect or retain personal data.

The Guardian - Tech

And a rat, scurrying across the back of the room halfway through the 19-minute video (at about 9mins 55secs).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Qld ball.And now Qld win a penalty on the halfway line.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing progress, pair "halfway" with a verb that indicates movement or achievement, such as "halfway through", "halfway there", or "halfway complete".

Common error

Avoid using "halfway" when you mean 'nearly' or 'almost'. "Halfway" implies a position very close to the exact midpoint, so it's misleading to use it for situations significantly short of that.

Linguistic Context

The word "halfway" primarily functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate a position or state at approximately the middle point between two extremes. As Ludwig AI states, it describes a middle point or a general situation that is partly completed. Ludwig's examples provide context for its adverbial use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "halfway" functions primarily as an adverb, indicating a position or state near the middle. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across varied written contexts. With a neutral register, it's commonly found in News & Media, providing insights into progress, location, or degree. While the word "halfway" is versatile, it's essential to use it accurately, implying nearness to the midpoint and avoiding its misuse as 'nearly' or 'almost'. Alternatives like "midway", "partially", and "part way" can be used depending on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

midway

Indicates a position at the middle point between two locations or times; a direct synonym.

part way

Similar to "halfway", but can imply less than exactly 50% completion.

at the midpoint

More formal, explicitly refers to the central point.

half the distance

Focuses on the spatial aspect of being "halfway".

partially

Denotes something done to some extent, not fully or completely.

in the middle

A more general phrase that indicates a central location or time.

half complete

Specifically refers to the progress of a task or project.

approaching the middle

Suggests movement towards the central point, not necessarily being there yet.

near the center

Indicates a position close to the central point, but not exactly at it.

fifty percent

Expresses the concept of being exactly at 50% of a given quantity or distance.

FAQs

How can I use "halfway" in a sentence?

You can use "halfway" to indicate a midpoint in distance, time, or progress. For example, "We are "halfway there"" or "The project is "halfway complete"".

What's a good alternative to the word "halfway"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "midway", "partially", or "part way".

Is it better to say "halfway through" or "halfway in"?

"Halfway through" is generally preferred when referring to the completion of a process or task. "Halfway in" can be used to describe a position within a space or container.

What does it mean to be "halfway decent"?

To be "halfway decent" means to be moderately good or acceptable, but not outstanding. It implies something is satisfactory but could be better.