nearly a half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly a half" is not typically correct or commonly used in written English.
A more standard way to express a similar idea would be "almost half" or "nearly half." Example: "Nearly half of the participants in the study reported feeling anxious."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The Nets' yawn lasted nearly a half Sunday night.

The New York Times - Sports

In 2005, Ranbaxy's profit fell by two-thirds and its share price by nearly a half.

The New York Times

"The television has been in everyone's home for nearly a half a century now.

The Guardian

Funeral wreaths the size of billboards formed a corridor nearly a half mile long.

The New York Times

Nearly a half million jobs have disappeared during the first seven months of the year.

The New York Times

Over the last five years, speeding convictions around Britain have gone up by nearly a half.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

This conversation went on for nearly a half-hour.

The New York Times

But, bonus: nearly a half-hour more to fester.

The New York Times

The first drilling rigs arrived nearly a half-century ago.

The New York Times

He has spent nearly a half-century involved in marijuana activism and radical politics.

The New York Times

What's more, it follows one main idea through nearly a half-century.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to fractions, it is generally recommended to use "half" or "one-half" rather than "a half."

Common error

Avoid using "nearly a half" in formal writing; it is often perceived as less polished than alternatives like "almost half".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly a half" functions as an approximative quantifier, indicating a quantity slightly less than one half. While Ludwig indicates the phrase is not standard, its use conveys an estimation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "nearly a half" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable. More conventional alternatives such as "almost half" or "close to half" are recommended for clearer and more precise communication. Despite its usage in news and media, opting for grammatically sound alternatives enhances the credibility and clarity of your writing. Using the phrase "nearly a half" is not advisable, especially in formal contexts, given the availability of more standard options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost half

Replaces "nearly a" with "almost", offering a more conventional and grammatically sound alternative.

close to half

Uses "close to" instead of "nearly a", indicating a similar approximation but with improved grammatical flow.

just under half

Expresses the idea of being slightly less than half, maintaining the approximation.

approximately half

Substitutes "nearly a" with "approximately", providing a more formal and standard expression.

around half

Employs "around" to convey the approximation, creating a slightly more casual tone.

in the vicinity of half

Offers a more verbose but still valid way to express an approximate quantity close to half.

not quite half

Emphasizes that the quantity is slightly below half, providing a more precise sense of approximation.

virtually half

Uses "virtually" to indicate near equivalence to half, suitable for contexts where precision is less critical.

nearing half

Implies an ongoing progression towards half, suitable for dynamic contexts where the quantity is approaching half.

pretty close to half

A more colloquial way of saying almost half.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "nearly a half"?

More appropriate alternatives include "almost half" or "nearly half", which are grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Is "nearly a half" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "nearly a half" is not considered standard English. It's better to use "almost half" or "nearly half".

Can I use "nearly a half" in formal writing?

It's advisable to avoid "nearly a half" in formal writing. Opt for more conventional phrases like "approximately half" for clarity and professionalism.

What's the difference between "nearly a half" and "almost half"?

The phrase "almost half" is generally preferred over "nearly a half" because it's more grammatically correct and sounds more natural to native English speakers.