in half

USAGE SUMMARY

"in half" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase is typically used to describe the act of cutting something into two equal parts. For example: "The chef took the melon and cut it in half."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cut grapefruit in half.

The New York Times - Food

In half, the incumbent won.

The New York Times

Divide mixture in half.

Forbes

money in half.

Forbes

Tweeting in half hour".

Los Angeles Times

In half.

Huffington Post

Cut watermelon in half.

WikiHow

Cut in half.

WikiHow

Cut onion in half.

WikiHow

Rip it in half.

WikiHow

Bend it in half.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in half" to clearly indicate that something is being divided into two equal portions. For example, "Cut the paper "in half" before folding it again."

Common error

Avoid using "in halves" when you mean "in half". "In half" refers to the state of being divided into two, while "in halves" is less common and often grammatically incorrect in most contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in half" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to describe how an action is performed – specifically, dividing something into two equal parts. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

51%

News & Media

42%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in half" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe dividing something into two equal parts. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, including instructional guides and news articles. While its register is generally neutral, it appears more frequently in informal settings. Remember to use "in half" when you want to emphasize the equality of the resulting portions, and avoid the less common and potentially incorrect "in halves".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divided in two

Emphasizes the act of splitting something into two parts.

halved

A concise, single-word alternative indicating division by two.

cut into two pieces

Highlights the physical action of cutting.

split down the middle

Implies a vertical division into equal parts.

reduced by 50 percent

Focuses on the numerical reduction of a quantity.

down the middle

Similar to "split down the middle" but less specific about the action.

bisected

A more formal term for dividing something into two equal parts.

in twain

An archaic term for dividing something in two.

shared equally between two

Suggests an equal distribution after division.

at the midpoint

Highlights the central point of division.

FAQs

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

You can use "in half" to describe dividing something into two equal parts. For example: "She cut the cake "in half" so each person could have an equal share."

What's a simple way to rephrase "in half"?

A simple rephrase of "in half" is "halved". For example, instead of saying "Cut the apple in half", you can say "Halve the apple".

Is it correct to say "split in halves" instead of "split in half"?

The correct phrase is "split in half". Although "halves" is the plural of "half", "in half" is an idiomatic expression used to describe the action of dividing something into two equal parts.

What's the difference between "in half" and "in two"?

"In half" implies two equal parts, while "in two" simply means divided into two parts, which may or may not be equal. For example, you might cut a rope "in two", but not necessarily "in half" unless you're aiming for equal lengths.