just under half of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just under half of" 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: "In the survey, just under half of the participants reported feeling satisfied with the service."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Together they hold just under half of all the shares.

Independent

Just under half of the population lives in rented accommodation.

The Economist

Just under half of those sponsors used consultants.

The New York Times

Just under half of them expired on 9 August.

The Guardian

Just under half of the women were killed by knives.

The Guardian

This is partly because just under half of China's 1.4 billion people still live there.

The Economist

Just under half of the people interviewed thought that politicians spoke for issues specific to them.

Independent

Just under half of medical degrees awarded in 2010 went to women.

The New York Times

Mr. Boerding said he lost just under half of his corn crop.

The New York Times

Just under half of those had arrived in the past 10 years.

Independent

That drops to just under half of independents and fewer than 4 in 10 Republicans.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “just under half of” when you want to convey a quantity or proportion that is slightly less than 50%, without needing to provide an exact number.

Common error

Avoid using "just under half of" when the exact percentage or number is known and readily available. In such cases, providing the specific data is more accurate and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just under half of" functions as a quantifier, specifying an approximate amount or proportion that is slightly less than 50%. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just under half of" is a versatile phrase used to express an approximate quantity slightly less than 50%. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts including news, science, and business. It's best used when an estimate is sufficient, and precise figures are not necessary. Alternatives include "almost half of" and "nearly half of". Avoid using it when exact data is available to maintain accuracy. Be mindful of providing context and choosing the most appropriate phrasing in specific instances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly less than half of

Replaces "just under" with "slightly less than", maintaining the same meaning.

almost half of

Uses "almost" instead of "just under", conveying a similar sense of approximation.

nearly half of

Employs "nearly" as a substitute for "just under", indicating a close proximity to half.

not quite half of

Replaces "just under" with "not quite", maintaining the original meaning.

a little less than half of

Adds "a little" for emphasis, suggesting a slightly smaller quantity than half.

fractionally below half of

Replaces "just under" with "fractionally below", indicating a minor difference.

in the vicinity of 45 percent of

Uses a percentage to approximate the quantity, offering a more specific estimate.

a minority close to half of

Indicates that the amount is a bit less than half. Emphasizes that the subject is smaller than half of the group.

around 40 to 49 percent of

Provides a range to express the approximate quantity, acknowledging some variability.

something shy of 50 percent of

Uses "something shy of" to convey the idea of being slightly less than 50 percent.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "just under half of" in a sentence?

You can replace "just under half of" with phrases like "almost half of", "nearly half of", or "slightly less than half of" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "just under half of" in formal writing?

Yes, "just under half of" is suitable for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to express a quantity that is a little less than 50%. You could also consider using "slightly less than half of" for added precision.

What's the difference between "just under half of" and "more than half of"?

"Just under half of" indicates a quantity that is a little less than 50%, while "more than half of" means a quantity greater than 50%. They are opposite in meaning and should be used carefully to accurately represent the intended proportion.

When should I use a specific percentage instead of "just under half of"?

If you have precise data available, it's generally better to use a specific percentage (e.g., "48%") instead of "just under half of". The latter is more appropriate when you're estimating or don't have exact figures.