nearly half of

USAGE SUMMARY

"nearly half of" is correct and is usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are referring to a quantity that is close to but not quite exactly 50%. For example, "Nearly half of the seats in the auditorium were filled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nearly half of the refugees are children.

The New York Times

Nearly half of Gazans are jobless.

The Economist

Nearly half of them came from Britain.

The New York Times - Arts

Nearly half of them are unemployed.

Independent

Nearly half of participants were repeat customers.

The Economist

Nearly half of Tanzanians are under 17.

The Economist

Mr. Bendukidze provided nearly half of that.

The New York Times

Nearly half of state court judges agree.

The New York Times

Nearly half of them.

The Guardian - Sport

They claim nearly half of all income.

The New York Times

Nearly half of the state's residents agree.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "nearly half of", ensure the context supports an approximation rather than an exact figure. For instance, use it when precise data is unavailable or unnecessary.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly half of" when you have precise data available. Instead, provide the exact percentage or fraction for accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly half of" functions as a quantifier, modifying a noun phrase to indicate an approximate proportion close to 50%. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is acceptable and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nearly half of" is a versatile phrase used to express that a quantity is approximately 50%. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, this phrase serves to provide an estimation rather than a precise figure. When writing, remember that this is an approximation and if precision is needed, provide the exact value. Alternatives include phrases like "almost half of" or "around half of", suitable for varied contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost 50% of

Replaces "nearly" with "almost", slightly emphasizing the approximation.

close to half of

Uses "close to" instead of "nearly", providing a more descriptive alternative.

around half of

Substitutes "nearly" with "around", indicating an approximate quantity.

approximately half of

Replaces "nearly" with "approximately", offering a more formal alternative.

just under half of

Adds "just under" to emphasize that the quantity is slightly less than half.

a little less than half of

Provides a more descriptive way of saying the quantity is slightly below 50%.

in the vicinity of half of

Uses "in the vicinity of" for a more descriptive and slightly formal expression.

nearing half of

Emphasizes the approaching quantity.

almost half

Shortens the phrase by removing "of", maintaining the core meaning.

about half of

Replaces "nearly" with "about", indicating an approximate quantity.

FAQs

How can I use "nearly half of" in a sentence?

Use "nearly half of" to indicate that something is close to, but not exactly, 50%. For example, "Nearly half of the participants were repeat customers."

What's the difference between "nearly half of" and "exactly half of"?

"Nearly half of" implies an approximation around 50%, while "exactly half of" indicates a precise 50%.

What can I say instead of "nearly half of"?

You can use alternatives like "almost half of", "close to half of", or "around half of depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "nearly half of the" followed by a plural noun?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. For instance, "Nearly half of the students" is a perfectly acceptable construction.