reduce to half

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'reduce to half' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation where the amount of something has been decreased to half the original size. For example, "She reduced the amount of sugar in the cake recipe to half of what it was originally."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Pour the marinade into a small pan and reduce to half the volume over a moderate to high heat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The expression (14) calculates the radial distance (r) over which the displacements of material particles reduce to half.

Earth, Planets and Space

In the case of C.albiceps, as the temperatures increases from 25°C to 30°C, the brooding time as well as the time spent for the next development stages reduce to half.

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

Covering any of these drugs will automatically reduce to half the size of our computational problem.

BMC Systems Biology

The water should reduce to half.

WikiHow

Once boiling reduce the heat and let it cook until it has thickened and reduce to half.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The whole set could probably have been reduced to half an hour.

The Guardian

I'm afraid I stopped watching Panorama when it was reduced to half an hour.

The Guardian

Even today, with the Everglades reduced to half its former size, water in the region is constantly being shunted around.

The New Yorker

I don't call for six cups of heavy cream reduced to half a cup, because I don't like to eat that way".

The New York Times

But when asked whether they'd support capital punishment if life without parole was an option, the number is reduced to half.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reduce to half" in scientific or technical writing, ensure the units of measurement are clearly specified to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "reduce to half" when you actually mean reducing by half. "Reduce to half" means the final amount is half the original, while reducing by half means the final amount is half less than the original, which equals one quarter of the original.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reduce to half" functions as a phrasal verb indicating a quantitative change. It describes the action of diminishing something's size, amount, or intensity to 50% of its initial state. Ludwig AI confirms the usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reduce to half" is a grammatically sound and accepted way to describe diminishing something to 50% of its original value. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While "reduce to half" might seem straightforward, it's crucial to distinguish it from "reduce by half", as they have different meanings. The phrase is most frequently encountered in scientific and news contexts. Related phrases like "halve the amount" or "decrease by 50 percent" offer alternative ways to express the same concept. Remember to specify measurement units for clarity and be mindful of proportionality to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

halve the amount

This option directly uses the verb "halve", which means to divide into two equal parts or reduce to half.

lessen by half

This option uses a simple and direct verb, "lessen", to express the reduction to half.

scale down by half

This implies a proportional reduction, often used in contexts of scaling projects or plans.

decrease by 50 percent

This alternative uses a percentage to quantify the reduction, making it more mathematically precise.

bring down to half

This is a phrasal verb implying a controlled reduction to half.

cut down by 50%

This alternative uses colloquial language ("cut down") to express reduction by a percentage.

lower to 50 percent

This uses the verb "lower" to indicate a decrease to half the original value.

diminish to 50 percent

This uses a more formal verb, "diminish", to convey a gradual reduction to half.

truncate by half

This option implies a sudden or abrupt reduction to half.

slash by 50 percent

This alternative uses the verb "slash" to indicate the reduction is significant and sudden.

FAQs

How can I use "reduce to half" in a sentence?

You can use "reduce to half" to describe a decrease in quantity to 50% of the original amount. For instance, "The recipe requires you to "reduce to half" the amount of sugar."

What's the difference between "reduce to half" and "reduce by half"?

"Reduce to half" means making something 50% of its original size or amount. "Reduce by half" means subtracting half of the original amount from the original amount, resulting in 50% of the original value. So "reduce to half" the quantity is same as reducing it by half.

What are some synonyms for "reduce to half"?

Alternatives include "halve the amount", "decrease by 50 percent", or "scale down by half". All these phrases indicate decreasing something to half its original value.

Is it correct to say "reduced to half" or should I use another tense?

The phrase "reduced to half" is grammatically correct as the past participle form. The tense depends on the context. For example, "The price was "reduce to half"" (past), or "We need to "reduce to half" our energy consumption" (present).