just about half of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just about half of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express an approximate quantity that is close to fifty percent of something. Example: "Just about half of the participants completed the survey by the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Stamford's poverty rate, at just below 8percentt, is just about half of Waterbury's.

The New York Times

There are about 70 major sports bodies and we got just about half of them.

The Guardian - Sport

Just about half of voters said defeating the Democratic president was most important to their vote today.

The New York Times

Just about half of the land is regularly cultivated, and about one-sixth is used for nonagricultural purposes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Just about half of all Americans now disapprove of the way the Obama Administration is handling health care.

The New Yorker

The current pace of construction activity is just about half of the annual $1.5 trillion level that economists believe would signal a healthy construction sector.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

And not just a few dollars, but about half of what we've earned.

Huffington Post

Mr. Moon offered an eight-hour trip for just $200 — about half of what some guides were offering.

The New York Times - Travel

The industry and the creaky distribution system it manages are on the cusp of a major technological overhaul just as about half of electric utility employees are expected to retire in the next 5 to 10 years.

The New York Times

And it's not just me: about half of the literary editors of the 10 or so major nationals with significant books coverage are women, and so was my brilliant predecessor in this job, Suzi Feay.

Independent

Those in the gamified environment who felt the game was unfair, confusing, or just inappropriate — about half of the workers in the group — were significantly less satisfied in their work, and slightly less productive.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just about half of" when you want to express an estimation that is very close to 50%. It is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "just about half of" indicates an approximation, avoid using it when you have precise data available. Instead, opt for the exact percentage or fraction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just about half of" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically modifies a noun, specifying an approximate quantity. Ludwig AI's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts to indicate that a value is close to 50% of something.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just about half of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to express an approximate quantity close to 50%. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and finds frequent application across various domains, including news, science, and general discourse. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, conveying a general sense of proportion without demanding exact precision. Consider alternatives like "approximately half of" or "nearly half of" for slight variations in tone, and remember to use precise figures when available to avoid ambiguity. The phrase is considered correct and usable according to Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately half of

Replaces "just about" with "approximately", offering a more formal tone.

nearly half of

Substitutes "just about" with "nearly", indicating a slight degree of being close to half.

around half of

Uses "around" in place of "just about", suggesting a less precise estimate.

close to half of

Emphasizes the proximity to half without a specific adverb.

half or so of

Uses "or so" to indicate an approximation around half.

roughly fifty percent of

Replaces "half" with "fifty percent" for increased numerical precision, while maintaining the approximation with "roughly".

in the vicinity of half of

Replaces "just about" with "in the vicinity of" to emphasize the approximate nature.

in the neighborhood of half of

Similar to 'in the vicinity of', this phrase offers a more casual tone while indicating approximation.

something like half of

Uses "something like" to convey a sense of estimation.

a little under half of

Specifically indicates the approximation is slightly less than half.

FAQs

What does "just about half of" mean?

The phrase "just about half of" means approximately 50% of something. It indicates an amount that is very close to being exactly half.

What can I say instead of "just about half of"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately half of", "nearly half of", or "around half of" to express a similar meaning.

Is "just about half of" formal or informal?

The phrase "just about half of" is neither strictly formal nor informal. It can be used in a variety of contexts, including news articles, academic papers, and casual conversation.

How accurate is the phrase "just about half of"?

The phrase "just about half of" indicates an approximation that is very close to being exactly 50%. If you have precise data, it's better to use the exact percentage or fraction. Otherwise the alternatives "approximately half of" or "roughly fifty percent of" are valid choices.