its other half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "its other half" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to a complementary part of something, often in a romantic or metaphorical context. For example, "She felt incomplete without her other half by her side." Alternative expressions include "better half," "other side," and "complementary part."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

But first, what of its other half, that large word "literature"?

The Guardian - Books

"The Odd Couple," a beloved sitcom that ran for five years beginning in 1970, just lost its other half.

The New York Times

In Plato's "Symposium," Aristophanes imagines the search for love as one half of a self looking for its other half.

The New York Times - Arts

To her knowledge, at least, not one of them has been reunited with its other half, though perhaps that's no great loss: "Most are so disgusting," she said.

The New York Times - Magazine

Only half of the fourth is visible; its other half disappears behind a low wall and into an embankment of earth.

The New York Times - Travel

A dock that had broken in the middle and lost its other half sloped down toward the water, its support pipes and wires leaning forward like when you open a box of linguine and it slides out.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Mr. Pinney writes that "the collection of essays in this volume was precipitated by the realization that photography itself is now in need of a similar revelation of its own other half, its own disavowed other history".

The New York Times - Books

Victor Erice's 1983 film El Sur is haunted by the ghost of its unmade other half: intended to run three hours, its producer stopped production midway through and Erice was left to spin his gold from an unfinished story.

The Guardian - Film

Even its hardware Other Half is a platform with an SDK.

TechCrunch

The BBC's Turkey correspondent, Mark Lowen, says that for half of the country, he says, 15 July 2016 was its rebirth; for the other half, its aftermath is killing off what was left of Turkish democracy.

BBC

Philadelphia was to Cleveland the zig to its zag, the other half of the zipper.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "its other half" to evoke a sense of incompleteness or longing for connection. It works well in both literal and metaphorical contexts to describe a missing component.

Common error

A common error is confusing "its" (possessive) with "it's" (contraction of "it is"). Ensure you use "its" only when showing possession, as in "The company sold half of Durel Corp. to the owner of "its other half"."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "its other half" functions primarily as a possessive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that something is a complementary or missing part belonging to a specific entity. As illustrated by Ludwig's examples, it adds detail and context to the relationship being described.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Arts

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "its other half" is a grammatically correct and relatively common phrase used to denote a complementary or missing part of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is found predominantly in news and media contexts. When writing, be mindful to use the possessive "its" correctly and consider alternative expressions such as "its counterpart" or "its complement" to add nuance. The phrase is neither overly formal nor informal, making it versatile for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

its counterpart

Refers to something that complements or corresponds to something else, often having a similar function or role but in a different context.

its complement

Indicates something that completes or enhances something else, emphasizing a sense of completeness.

its missing piece

Highlights the absence of a crucial element needed for completeness or fulfillment.

its better half

Often used humorously or affectionately to refer to someone's spouse or partner.

its partner

Suggests a relationship of collaboration or association, where two entities work together.

its mate

Implies a pairing or matching of two things, often in a biological or functional sense.

its twin

Indicates a close resemblance or mirroring between two entities.

its matching part

Directly refers to a component that is specifically designed to fit or correspond with another.

its corresponding element

Highlights the parallel or equivalent nature of something in a different system or context.

its correlating aspect

Focuses on the interconnectedness and mutual relationship between two elements.

FAQs

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

Use "its other half" to refer to a missing or complementary part of something. For example, "The documentary explores one side of the story, while failing to address "its other half"".

What phrases are similar to "its other half"?

Alternatives include "its counterpart", "its complement", or "its missing piece", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "its other half"?

It is suitable when discussing something that is incomplete or has a dual nature, where understanding one part requires considering the other. For instance, "The success of the project hinges on the cooperation of both teams; one cannot function without "its other half"".

Is "its other half" a formal or informal expression?

It generally carries a neutral to slightly formal tone, making it appropriate for a wide range of contexts, from news articles to literary analyses. However, consider using more precise or technical language in highly formal or scientific writing.