in the second half of the year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the second half of the year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the second half of a calendar year or fiscal year. Example sentence: Our company saw increased sales in the second half of the year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

The new business is expected to start up in the second half of the year.

The New York Times

Economists had hoped it would improve in the second half of the year.

The New York Times

Her minority Labor government faces an election in the second half of the year.

The Economist

Weaker performances in the second half of the year demonstrate the obvious impact of the recession.

The Economist

Mr. Duesterberg said he expected exports to grow further in the second half of the year.

The New York Times

That move could come in the second half of the year.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Pulte forecast profit in the second half of the year.

The New York Times

Margins also improved in the second half of the year.

The Economist

The trend accelerated in the second half of the year.

The New York Times

But, he added, they may start inching up in the second half of the year.

The New York Times

"I think the Fed should taper in the second half of the year," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business performance or project timelines, specify the exact months (e.g., "from July to December") for clarity, rather than relying solely on "in the second half of the year".

Common error

Be aware that "in the second half of the year" can be ambiguous if the context doesn't clarify whether you're referring to a calendar year (January-December) or a fiscal year (which varies by organization). Always specify which timeframe you mean to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the second half of the year" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifying when an event takes place. It modifies verbs or clauses to indicate a timeframe within the calendar or fiscal year, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the second half of the year" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a timeframe between July and December in the calendar year, or the latter six months of a fiscal year. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and the examples showcase its widespread use across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Business. While versatile, specify the exact months for clarity in formal contexts. Alternatives such as "in the latter part of the year" offer more formal options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the latter part of the year

Replaces "second half" with "latter part", maintaining the meaning.

during the year's second semester

Uses "second semester" instead of "second half", implying an academic or structured timeframe.

in the back half of the year

Uses "back half" instead of "second half", which is a more informal substitution.

from July onwards

Specifies the starting point of the second half, assuming a calendar year.

post-midyear

A concise term indicating the period following the middle of the year.

after the first six months

Explicitly states the timeframe as after the initial six months of the year.

in the season's latter stages

Substitutes 'year' with 'season,' altering the general context somewhat.

during the closing months of the year

Highlights the end-of-year aspect of the second half.

the year's final portion

Emphasizes that it's the concluding part of the year.

in Q3 and Q4

Refers to the third and fourth quarters, a business-specific way to denote the second half.

FAQs

What does "in the second half of the year" mean?

It refers to the period from July 1st to December 31st in a calendar year. It can also refer to the latter six months of a fiscal year, depending on the context.

How can I use "in the second half of the year" in a sentence?

You might say, "We expect to see increased sales "in the second half of the year"." This indicates a timeframe for an anticipated event.

Are there more formal alternatives to "in the second half of the year"?

Yes, you could use "in the latter part of the year" or "during the year's second semester" for a more formal tone.

Is it better to say "in the second half of the year" or specify the months?

Specifying the months (e.g., "from July to December") is generally clearer and more precise, especially in business or academic contexts, than using "in the second half of the year".