not even half

USAGE SUMMARY

"not even half" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to convey that something isn't even close to being half way. For example, "I've only done about a quarter of the work, not even half."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"They're not even half".

The New York Times

The carnage was not even half over.

The New York Times - Sports

It's not even half a haiku.

The Guardian - Sport

Except it's not even half a chance.

The Guardian

Not even half an hour had been played.

Independent

In eastern households it is not even half that.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

No one, not even half-friendly China, really knows.

The Economist

Yet the job is not even half-complete.

The Economist

7. We're not even half-way done yet.

The New York Times

It is not even half-time, and Montreal already have 66 points to London's nine.

Independent

He has six catches for 124 yards so far, and it's not even half-time.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not even half" to emphasize a significant deficiency or shortfall, making your point more impactful. It's effective in highlighting that something is far from complete or sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "not even half" when a precise numerical value is available and more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact, so reserve it for situations where you want to emphasize a substantial lack.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not even half" functions as a quantifier, indicating that an amount or degree is significantly less than 50%. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used to emphasize a substantial shortfall, rather than provide a precise measurement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not even half" is a versatile phrase used to express that something falls significantly short of being halfway complete or reaching a 50% level. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts. While it's prevalent in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business settings, this phrase is less common in scientific or highly technical contexts. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize a substantial deficiency or highlight a notable lack. The related phrases such as "far from half" and "nowhere near half" offer similar ways to underscore incompleteness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far from half

Emphasizes distance from the halfway point.

nowhere near half

Highlights the significant difference from being halfway.

less than half

Directly states a quantity smaller than half.

not remotely half

Adds a sense of impossibility of reaching half.

a fraction of half

Indicates a very small portion compared to half.

well short of half

Emphasizes that it is considerably less than half.

significantly less than half

Highlights the notable difference from half.

a small fraction of half

Conveys an extremely small quantity relative to half.

hardly half

Stresses the lack of even approaching half.

barely a fraction of half

Emphasizes the minimal quantity compared to half.

FAQs

How can I use "not even half" in a sentence?

You can use "not even half" to emphasize that something is significantly less than 50%. For example, "I've completed the project, but it's "far from done", I am not even half way through".

What are some alternatives to saying "not even half"?

Alternatives to "not even half" include phrases like "less than half", "nowhere near half", or "a fraction of half", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not even half as much"?

Yes, "not even half as much" is grammatically correct. It's used to compare two quantities, emphasizing that one is significantly smaller than half of the other. For instance, "He earns not even half as much as his colleague".

When is it appropriate to use "not even half" instead of providing a specific percentage?

Use "not even half" when you want to emphasize the magnitude of the deficiency or incompleteness, rather than focusing on precise figures. It's most effective when the exact number isn't as important as the overall impression of falling significantly short.