just under half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just under half" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a quantity that is slightly less than 50% of a whole. Example: "The survey results showed that just under half of the participants preferred option A over option B."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just under half of Democrats oppose.

The Washington Post

Together they hold just under half of all the shares.

Independent

Just under half of the population lives in rented accommodation.

The Economist

Canada is ninth, just under half a match behind Scotland.

The New York Times

Just under half of last year's votes were cast online.

The Guardian

Just under half a million dollars a year.

The New Yorker

Just under half of the women were killed by knives.

The Guardian

Just under half of them expired on 9 August.

The Guardian

Just under half this tonnage is sold illegally.

The Guardian

Just under half of those sponsors used consultants.

The New York Times

Just under half of directors now say their board has such engagement.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just under half" to clearly communicate a quantity that is slightly smaller than 50% without needing to specify the exact percentage.

Common error

Avoid using "just under half" when the actual quantity is significantly less than 50%. It's best suited for values reasonably close to the halfway mark. If, say, 20% of participants choose a certain outcome, find an alternative expression that better represents such quantity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just under half" functions as a quantitative descriptor, indicating a proportion that is slightly less than 50%. Ludwig shows it's frequently used to provide an approximate value without needing exact precision. This type of phrase is useful for simplifying complex data into easily understandable terms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just under half" is a grammatically correct and commonly used quantitative descriptor that indicates a proportion slightly less than 50%. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to provide an approximate value across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While maintaining a neutral register, it is most frequently found in scientific and news-related sources. Alternatives such as "slightly less than half" or "almost half" can be used depending on the desired level of precision. When using the phrase, make sure the actual value is reasonably close to 50% to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly less than half

Emphasizes the 'less than' aspect with a more descriptive tone.

almost half

Focuses on the approximation to 50% without explicitly stating it's less.

nearly half

Similar to "almost half", indicating a close proximity to 50%.

a little under half

Adds a degree of nuance by specifying "a little" difference.

fractionally below half

Uses more formal and precise language.

somewhat less than fifty percent

More verbose and explicitly states the percentage.

in the neighborhood of forty-five percent

Specifies a range while remaining less precise.

around forty percent

Simplifies the fraction by using the closest round number.

close to but not quite fifty percent

Expands to clarify the relationship to fifty percent explicitly.

a substantial minority

Shifts the focus to denote the quantity as a notable minority rather than a specific fraction.

FAQs

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

You can use "just under half" to describe a proportion slightly less than 50%. For instance, "Just under half of the survey respondents preferred option A."

What are some alternatives to using "just under half"?

Alternatives include "slightly less than half", "almost half", or "nearly half", depending on the desired level of precision.

Is it correct to say "just less than half" instead of "just under half"?

While "just less than half" is understandable, "just under half" is the more common and idiomatic expression.

What is the difference between "just under half" and "over half"?

"Just under half" means a proportion slightly less than 50%, while "over half" means a proportion greater than 50%.