minus half of

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'minus half of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an abbreviation for subtracting half of the amount of something. For example, "I had to minus half of the tickets for the show because there wasn't enough space for everyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Following our earlier strategy of estimating δ ( g ) by the average of its largest and smallest values, and approximating g over one spike interval by the initial value minus half of the drop in g that occurs during that interval, we obtain our estimated spike counts.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience

To explain, the location of a signal is considered to be at the center of a BAC so the amount of DNA between the BAC signals on the borders of the scaffold should be the scaffold size minus half the DNA in the left border BAC and minus half of the DNA in the right border BAC.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

This area was calculated, using the trapezoidal method, as the sum of those 53 QOLtdi values, minus half of the first and last values.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The width of the optic nerve subarachnoid space was calculated as the difference of half of the optic nerve sheath diameter minus half of the optic nerve diameter [ 24].

Critical Care

Weeks of good-quality life in the 10 weeks before death are the sum of QOLtdi from week -9 to the first zero QOLtdi minus half of the first and last values.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

We calculated the risk of still birth at each week of gestation by dividing the number of still births that occurred during that week by the total number of ongoing pregnancies at the beginning of the week minus half of the number of live births in that week.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

For λ > $1000, the estimate of the incremental net benefit is positive (i.e., b1 > 0), so the quantity to calculate for the CEAC's vertical axis is one minus one half of the two-sided p-value.

BMC Health Services Research

More specifically, YD is based on own phenotypic information, PA is the average of the parental EBV, and PC is the sum of the differences between the EBV of any progeny of animal i minus one half of the EBV of each progeny's dam (or the mate of animal i).

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

The show dominated this year's somewhat suspect best mini-series category — half of the nominees seem to push the bounds of the format — netting 17 nods, which ties "Mad Men" for this year's highest total.

The New York Times

The classes mini, subcompact, and half of the compact cars as 'smaller cars' make up for roughly 40% of German car purchases, as well as the other half of the compact class, middle-sized and upper middle-sized classes and minivans as 'bigger cars'b.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

b The effective population at risk (ni') is the total number of individuals followed in the 5-year period (ni) minus half the number of individuals censored (wi) (ni' = ni-wi/2).

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minus half of" in technical writing, ensure the context clearly defines what the 'whole' is from which half is being subtracted. For example, "The adjusted score is the initial score minus half of the penalty points."

Common error

Avoid using "minus half of" when the intent is to describe something approximately half the size or quantity, instead of a precise subtraction. Use phrases like "approximately half" or "close to half" to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minus half of" functions as a prepositional modifier indicating subtraction of one half of a specified quantity or value. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples showing its application in mathematical and descriptive contexts. The grammatical function is consistently to reduce a preceding value.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase “minus half of” is a grammatically sound and functional expression used to indicate the subtraction of 50% of a quantity. Ludwig AI validates this, providing examples from varied sources primarily in the science and news domains. Its usage is generally neutral and best suited for situations requiring a clear and quantifiable reduction, avoiding contexts where approximation is intended. Remember to clearly define the 'whole' when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less half of

Replaces "minus" with "less", maintaining the core meaning of subtraction.

excluding 50% of

Replaces "half" with its percentage equivalent for clarity or emphasis.

subtract half of

Uses the verb "subtract" for a more explicit mathematical operation.

deduct half of

Similar to "subtract", but implies a formal or accounting context.

excluding half of

Focuses on the act of excluding a portion from the whole.

remove 50 percent of

Uses "remove" for a more direct instruction to take away a specified portion.

half subtracted from

Rearranges the phrase to emphasize the amount being subtracted from.

reducing by half of

Uses "reducing by" to convey the act of diminution.

taking away half of

A more informal way of expressing the subtraction of a half.

diminished by half of

Implies a reduction or lessening of something by half.

FAQs

How do I use "minus half of" in a sentence?

Use "minus half of" when you want to indicate that a quantity is being reduced by exactly one-half of another quantity. For example, "The final cost is the original price "minus half of" the discount."

What are some alternatives to "minus half of"?

Alternatives include "less half of", "subtract half of", or "deduct half of", depending on the formality and context. For example, in a formal accounting report, "deduct half of" might be more appropriate.

Is it always appropriate to use "minus half of" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "minus half of" may sound less formal than alternatives like "less half of" or "subtract half of", especially in academic or professional contexts. Choose the phrasing that best suits the tone of your document.

What's the difference between "minus half of" and "approximately half of"?

"Minus half of" indicates a precise subtraction resulting in a specific quantity, whereas "approximately half of" suggests an estimated amount close to 50%. Use "approximately half of" when precision is not required or intended.