just over half

USAGE SUMMARY

"just over half" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a quantity that is slightly more than half. For example: "I received just over half of the expected funds from the grant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just over half.

The New Yorker

Well, by just over half the country.

The Guardian - Opinion

Just over half attended a cardic rehab program.

Harvard University

Just over half (51%) strongly disapprove of it.

The Economist

In Nevada, just over half picked this issue.

The New York Times

Together, they won just over half the votes cast.

The New York Times

In fact, just over half were working full-time.

The Economist

"That's just over half a million," he said finally.

The New Yorker

That task was just over half completed by the Coalition.

Independent

They are currently giving them just over half that amount.

Independent

Since then that share has fallen to just over half.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse of "just over half" in close proximity within your writing. Vary your language with alternatives like "slightly more than half" or "a little over half" to maintain reader engagement.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "just over half" without clearly defining the total from which the half is derived. Always ensure the base quantity is explicitly stated or easily understood from the context to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just over half" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating a proportion slightly exceeding 50%. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe quantities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

37%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "just over half" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express a quantity slightly exceeding 50%. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. It is very common and useful in a variety of contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the base quantity is clear to avoid ambiguity. While acceptable in numerous situations, varying your language with alternatives like "slightly more than half" can enhance the readability and engagement of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly more than half

Replaces "just over" with "slightly more than", emphasizing the small margin above half.

a little over half

Uses "a little over" to convey a similar sense of being marginally above the halfway point.

a bit more than half

Uses "a bit more than" to indicate a small quantity above half, using a more informal tone.

marginally more than fifty percent

More formal and precise, specifying the percentage with a slight increase.

somewhat above fifty percent

Replaces "just over" with "somewhat above", indicating a moderate increase over 50%.

fractionally greater than half

Emphasizes the smallness of the amount above half.

in excess of fifty percent

More formal, indicating an amount beyond fifty percent.

a small majority

This alternative simplifies the expression by directly stating that a small majority exists.

a slim majority

Implies that the quantity constitutes a slight majority.

a bare majority

Suggests the quantity barely reaches a majority.

FAQs

What does "just over half" mean?

The phrase "just over half" means a quantity that is slightly more than 50% of a whole. It implies a small margin above the halfway point.

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

You can use alternatives like "slightly more than half", "a little over half", or "a slim majority" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "just over half" or "51%"?

The choice depends on the context. "Just over half" is less precise but can be more appropriate in general writing. "51%" is more precise and suitable for technical or statistical contexts.

How to use "just over half" in a sentence?

You can use "just over half" to describe a proportion, like: "Just over half of the respondents agreed with the proposal".