only half of the picture

USAGE SUMMARY

"only half of the picture" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to any situation in which a statement or explanation covers only a small portion of the complete information. For example, "This report only provides half of the picture. We need to investigate further for a comprehensive understanding of the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But it's only half of the picture.

The New York Times

Presenting them with only half of the picture is misleading".

Independent

But they make up only half of the picture in Ballet de Monterrey; for all their power and exertion, the men glitter too.

The New York Times - Arts

The dualists believe that science can uncover only half of the picture: it can't explain what Nabokov called "the marvel of consciousness — that sudden window swinging open on a sunlit landscape amidst the night of non-being".

The New Yorker

In this context, we realize that awakening to timeless Being, the perennial goal of Eastern enlightenment, is only half of the picture -- half of the totality of reality.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Maybe only half of the pictures in this book were ever seen by anyone back then and until 2009, when I began to post the images online, no one but me had seen the rest.

Vice

The polarized glass method previously used in 3D glasses produced separate images for the left and right eyes, resulting in half the resolution of two-dimensional pictures as only half of the screen can be viewed through each polarized filter.

TechCrunch

Take pictures from far away, or so close you see only half of the face, from high above, or a worm's eye from the ground looking up.

WikiHow

He kept only half of the profits.

The New York Times

Music is only half of the enjoyment.

WikiHow

Use only half of the sour cream.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "only half of the picture" when you want to emphasize that a situation or explanation is incomplete and potentially misleading without further context. It's effective for prompting further investigation or clarification.

Common error

Avoid using "only half of the picture" in situations where the incompleteness is already apparent or implied. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound redundant or condescending. Instead, focus on providing the missing information directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "only half of the picture" functions as a qualifier, indicating that the information being presented is incomplete or partial. As Ludwig AI explains, it suggests that there's more to the story than what is immediately apparent. This is confirmed by numerous examples from various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "only half of the picture" serves as a qualifier, denoting incompleteness and urging caution against hasty conclusions based on partial information. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it is widely used in news, media, and general discourse. When using the phrase, it is advisable to remember the usage tips and common pitfalls explained above. Alternatives such as "an incomplete perspective" or "a partial view" may provide a nuanced way of expressing a very similar concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not the whole story

Directly states that information is missing or concealed.

an incomplete perspective

Focuses on the lack of a full understanding or viewpoint.

a partial view

Emphasizes that only a portion of the whole is being seen or considered.

just a fraction of the reality

Highlights that what is presented is a small part of a larger, more complex situation.

a limited understanding

Points out that comprehension is restricted or not comprehensive.

a distorted image

Suggests the representation is not accurate and potentially misleading.

missing key elements

Highlights that essential components are absent from the account or explanation.

a superficial assessment

Indicates a lack of depth in the evaluation or analysis.

merely the tip of the iceberg

Implies a much larger issue or problem exists beyond what is immediately apparent.

a skewed interpretation

Focuses on the biased or slanted nature of the information presented.

FAQs

What does "only half of the picture" mean?

It means that what's being presented is an incomplete or partial view of a situation, and there's more to it than what's immediately apparent.

How can I use "only half of the picture" in a sentence?

You can say something like, "The statistics presented "only paint half the picture", as they don't account for external factors."

What's a more formal alternative to "only half of the picture"?

A more formal alternative could be "an incomplete perspective" or "a partial representation" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "only part of the picture" instead of "only half of the picture"?

Yes, saying "only part of the picture" is a perfectly acceptable alternative and carries a similar meaning.